Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

THURSDAY NIGHT - Snow, 10-20 cm / southwest wind, 60-80 km/h, gusting to 120 km/h / alpine low temperature near -2 / freezing level 1400 m in the south, near valley bottom in the north

FRIDAY - Snow, 10-20 cm / southwest wind, 60-80 km/h gusting to 100 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1000 m in the south, near valley bottom in the north

SATURDAY - Snow, 10-20 cm / south wind, 50-70 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1000 m in the south, near valley bottom in the north

SUNDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 30-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1000 m in the south, near valley bottom in the north

New snow and strong winds will mean that storm slabs are anticipated to be widespread and natural avalanches are expected. 

There were a few natural avalanches up to size 3 reported in the north of the region on Wednesday. There was also one remotely triggered size 3 persistent slab avalanche reported in the north of the region.

There was a natural avalanche cycle reported on Tuesday, as well as numerous explosives triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 and a few human triggered size 1 avalanches.

On Monday, there were reports of widespread natural and explosives triggered avalanches up to size 3. The largest avalanches were reported in the north of the region where there has been more recent snow. The avalanches being reported closer to Terrace were generally in the size 1-2 range.

20-40 cm of snow is expected between Thursday night and Friday afternoon. This will bring recent storm snow totals to around 70-120 cm. Rising freezing levels on Thursday night will mean that much of this precipitation will likely fall as rain at treeline and below treeline in the south of the region.

In the Shames area, a weak layer of surface hoar has been reported in sheltered areas down around 100-160 cm. 

A bit further north in the Nass/Sterling/Beaupre areas, there is potentially still concern about an older weak layer overlying a crust that is now roughly 160-180 cm deep. 

In the far north of the region, there is concern about weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy rain.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.