Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2026–Apr 17th, 2026

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 possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Seven Sisters, Howson, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

The possibility of a large persistent slab avalanche means continuing to avoid large, steep, open slopes.

These avalanches may be hard to trigger, but the consequences would be serious.

Confidence

Moderate

We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday in the Seaton area, our field team saw numerous natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 from earlier in the week. They also saw a large (size 2.5) naturally triggered persistent slab avalanche on a south facing slope at 1800 m. It ran across the normal trail, and likely occurred on the weekend. See their instagram post for a video.

This continues the trend of persistent slab avalanches around Smithers from late last week, including a remotely triggered size 3.

Snowpack Summary

10-30 cm of recent snow is settling over a crust that is expected on the surface on all aspects at treeline and on all but north-facing terrain in the alpine. Above 1600 m, this crust is thin and breakable.

Generally southwest wind has formed wind slabs in leeward terrain.

A layer of weak, sugary snow over a thick crust is buried 100 to 200 cm and continues to produce large, surprising avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind, decreasing to 20 km/h by the morning. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind, decreasing to 10 km/h through the day. Treeline high 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. 1 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high 3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1750 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and clouds, potential clearing in the afternoon. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high 8 °C. Freezing level rising to 2300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

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.

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.