Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2025–Apr 9th, 2025

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

Regions

Coquihalla, Manning, Skagit.

Wind slabs may still be reactive at upper elevations.

Pay attention to changing conditions with elevation and aspect.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported, but observations are currently very limited in the region.

Looking forward, we expect wind slabs will be reactive to human-triggering at upper elevations on Wednesday.

If you head into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Stormy conditions and fluctuating freezing levels over the past few days have deposited 10 to 30 mm of rain at lower elevations and snow up high. An additional 5 to 15 cm of snow is expected to fall overnight above 1200 m, with rain at lower elevations again. The new snow is overlaying moist snow or a crust, and has formed wind slabs in wind-loaded terrain near ridgetops. An old persistent weak layer of facets may still be present 100 to 150 cm below the surface on high north-facing slopes. Triggering this layer is considered unlikely at this time. At lower elevations, the snowpack is rain-saturated, and coverage is rapidly thinning at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1300 m, possible rain below. Highest amounts forecast for the western region. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m, dropping to 1200 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Thursday

Cloudy, with 10 to 20 mm of moderate to heavy rain below 2000 m, possible snow above. 35 to 45 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level rising to 2300 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.