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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2026–Jan 13th, 2026

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain. Natural avalanches are expected to continue as temperatures rise, and wind/snow/rain continues.

Confidence

High

  • The number, quality, or consistency of field observations is good, and supports our confidence.
  • We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

A large, widespread natural avalanche cycle is ongoing. Wet avalanches have been observed at lower elevations, while storm, wind and persistent slab avalanches continue above. Avalanches have been running within the storm snow, and on buried weak layers, including the early January surface hoar and late December crust.

Snowpack Summary

Another 30 to 50 cm of storm snow is expected by Tuesday evening, raising storm totals to 110 to 200 cm. Storm snow has been redistributed by strong southerly winds at upper elevations, and is settling rapidly due to warm temperatures. Surface snow is likely wet at low elevations, and moist to ridgeline from recent rain and warm temperatures.

A layer of large surface hoar is buried 90 to 140 cm in sheltered treeline features. Below treeline, a crust is found at this interface. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 cm to 450 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40-60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 10 to 25 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 45 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level begins at 1400 m and drops over the day.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeply buried weak layers and result in very large avalanches.

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.