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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2026–Jan 22nd, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson.

A persistent slab is lingering in the region.

While natural activity has slowed, the possibility for human triggered avalanches still exists.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

January 20

  • No new avalanches reported

January 19

  • Numerous large (up to size 3) explosive triggered avalanche were reported. Mostly failing as cornices or persistent slabs.

January 18

  • A large (size 2) natural glide slab avalanche was reported below treeline.

January 16 & 17

  • A few large (size 2) natural avalanches were reported. On south aspects they are loose wet and on north and east aspects they are cornice failures.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine, a widespread melt freeze crust exists to around 1500 m, higher than this the surface is quite firm and wind affected. Small pockets of stubborn wind slab may exist. Surface facetting has been noted on all these surfaces. The January 3rd surface hoar is still a layer of note and found between 100 and 250 cm deep.

At treeline and below treeline, the previously warm and wet surface snow has now become a robust melt freeze crust. Some new surface hoar growth has been noted on this layer.

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

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

Problems

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.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.