Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2026–Jan 13th, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Heavy precipitation, rising freezing levels, and large, fragile cornices are keeping hazard elevated.

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet loose avalanches were reported up to size two in the Duffy Lake area.

On Monday, two explosives controlled size 3 avalanches were reported that may have released down to an early November weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow above 1900 m is being redistributed by strong to extreme winds developing reactive storm slabs in lee features. Rain saturated surface snow is present below 1800 m.

The mid pack is settling rapidly and increases in resistance.

The lower snowpack is well consolidated snow and two melt-freeze crusts from early season.

An report of large explosive controlled avalanches may have release on one of these layers.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Cloudy. 3 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Wednesday
Sunny. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
Wet avalanche activity may step down to deeply buried persistent weak layers at lower elevations.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.