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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2026–Mar 20th, 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 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

South Coast, Powell River, North Shore, Sasquatch, Tetrahedron, Skagit.

Use caution as you transition into higher elevations where the precipitation falls as snow. Expect reactive wind slabs in lee features.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

The wet avalanche cycle has likely slowed due to the amount of precipitation that has already fallen. Natural avalanches are likely in the alpine and treeline elevations where the precipitation falls as snow.

If you are going into the field, please support the forecast by posting a MIN.

Snowpack Summary

As the freezing level drops, new snow will start to accumulate at treeline and above. Strong southwest winds will transport this new snow into slabs on lee features. Below the rain line, expect the upper snowpack to be saturated down to the thick, widespread crust, buried in early March. Below it, the snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy. 20 to 30 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Friday

Cloudy. 5 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

Problems

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.

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.