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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2026–Feb 4th, 2026

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Rupert, Shames, Stewart.

Strong winds, heavy precipitation and significant warming are creating dangerous avalanche conditions at upper elevations.


Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Avalanche Summary

It's been a stormy week with a significant natural avalanche cycle occurring, up to size 3. On Sunday, there were reports of size 1.5 to 2.5 slab avalanches.

With heavy precipitation, strong winds and warming in the forecast, both natural and human-triggered avalanches will be likely in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Strong southwesterly winds and 30 to 45 mm of precipitation is expected to accumulate overnight through Wednesday morning, with freezing levels reaching 1600-1800m . The snow surface will be wet below the rain/snow line.

A hard crust with surface hoar or facets that formed on January 26th is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches. Previous rain events may have neutralized this problem at lower elevations.

Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy. 20 to 30 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy. 20 to 40 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.


More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Avalanche danger will rapidly increase if snow switches to rain.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.