Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2026–Mar 14th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

If you see greater than 15 cm of new snow, treat the danger as CONSIDERABLE.

Be especially cautious in steep, wind-affected terrain where triggering slabs is most likely.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.
We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, A few small (size 1) skier-triggered wind slab avalanches were reported on north aspects between 1200 and 1400 meters.

On Thursday, skiers triggered a size 1.5 persistent slab on a NW aspect below terrain in the north of the region. Near Terrace, skiers triggered a size 1 wind slab on a SE aspect at treeline.

We suspect new snow and wind on Saturday will form fresh, reactive wind slabs.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow buries surface hoar from recent cold, clear weather. This is sitting on 20 to 50 cm of recent storm snow that is wind-affected in open areas. This snow is sitting on a surface crust below treeline, formed following the March 7 warming event and tapering above 1600 m.

The mid snowpack, down 90 to 130 cm, weak layers of surface hoar, facets and crusts remain a concern, especially where there is no crust above. Triggering of these layers is becoming less likely, but remains at a depth where human triggering is possible.

The remaining snowpack is generally well settled and well bonded.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy. 1 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 4 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 15 to 40 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

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.

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.