Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2026–Feb 3rd, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Nass, Seven Sisters, Howson, Kispiox, Ningunsaw.

Strong winds, moderate to heavy precipitation and significant warming are creating dangerous conditions.

Choose conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.
We are uncertain about how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday

A few storm slabs were observed up to size 2.

Friday

Several loose wet avalanches and one slab avalanche up to size 2 were observed.

With more precipitation, strong winds and warming in the forecast, the danger is expected to remain elevated with large natural avalanches possible and human-triggering likely.

Observations have been limited by poor visibility and difficult weather, so be sure to post your observations to the MIN if you get out!

Snowpack Summary

Strong southwesterly winds and 10 to 20 mm of precipitation is expected to accumulate overnight and through Tuesday, with freezing levels potentially reaching 2000 m. The snow surface will be wet below the snow/rain line

A hard crust with a persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 35 to 70 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches. Previous rain events may have neutralized this problem at lower elevations.

The remaining snowpack is well settled with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 150 cm to 250 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy. 15 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1950 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 3 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1700 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.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
The first few hours of rain will likely be the most dangerous period.
Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.