Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 31st, 2026–Feb 1st, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Update 6:10 AM

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

Reports on Friday indicated numerous small to large wet loose sluffs and slab avalanches up to size 3 in the north of the region. Reports from areas near Terrace were limited, likely due to poor visibility, with several small loose wet sluffs observed at lower elevations.

While precipitation is expected to remain light through Sunday, the danger is expected to remain elevated with large natural avalanches possible and human-triggering likely.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 80 cm of settling storm snow has fallen since Monday, accompanied by rain at lower elevations. Another 5 to 15 mm of rain or snow at treeline is expected by the end of day Sunday. This storm snow will be heavy, and wet below the rain line. Above the rain line, the snow surface has seen widespread wind effect in open areas from strong southwesterly winds.

In many areas, the storm snow is overlying a reactive weak layer of surface hoar or facets, over a thick, hard crust.

A deeper layer of surface hoar from early January can be found down 70 to 250 cm, and remains a lingering concern.

Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy. 2 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Cloudy. 1 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Monday

Cloudy. 15 to 30 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 10 to 25 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.