Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2026–Apr 18th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Shames, Stewart.

Reactive wind slabs may persist at higher elevations where dry snow remains, while loose wet avalanches are possible on steep slopes during warming or sun exposure.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain due to a highly variable snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Several small avalanches (size 1 to 1.5) were reported on Thursday. In general, loose wet avalanches were reported on steep, sun-exposed slopes, while a mix of loose dry, wind slab, and storm slab avalanches occurred at higher elevations on shaded slopes where dry snow persists.

Snowpack Summary

In alpine terrain, up to 40 cm of recent snow continues to settle and bond atop crusty surfaces in all but high-alpine north-facing slopes, where a crust below the recent snow is unlikely. Deeper deposits of wind-loaded snow can be found in leeward terrain from recent southwesterly winds.

In most areas at treeline and below, the upper snowpack is moist, and possibly even isothermal at low elevations.

Check out this Conditions Update video for tips on managing the current spring conditions.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 3 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

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.

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.