Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Jan 13 – 14, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warming temps will rapidly settle new snow, increasing the chance of human triggering.

As the avalanche danger increases, the solution is simple: choose conservative terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    On going strong south west wind is building wind slabs. Expect to find these near ridge crests and below steep roll overs .

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Even a small wet loose avalanche can have enough power to push you into or over a terrain trap such as a cliff or ditch. Dial back your terrain selection when rainfall occurs on dry snow.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
  • Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Storm and wind slab avalanches were reported size 1 to 2.5 over the past three days, triggered naturally, by humans and explosives. Most were on northwest to northeast aspects at upper elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25 cm of snow on Monday is being transported and building new and reactive wind slabs.

The prominent mid-December facet/crust layer is buried over 1 m deep and extends up to 2200 m. Triggering the crust is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Cloudy. 2 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 1 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 90 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Thursday
Sunny. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 25 cm of new snow.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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