Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2026–Mar 21st, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Shames, Stewart.

Large storm slabs will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

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

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about alpine conditions due to limited field observations.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a size 2.5 cornice failure was reported on a northwest aspect in the alpine.

A widespread natural storm slab avalanche cycle occurred over the last week on all aspects/elevations. Storm slabs up to size 2.5 were reported at treeline and below.

There have been very limited alpine observations, but we suspect numerous natural very large avalanches (size 3.5 or larger) have occurred.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and looming. Avoid traveling underneath them.

Recent snowfall amounts have varied from 85 to 140 cm, with the highest amounts being in the south of the region. The recent snow and strong southwest winds have formed storm slabs overlying a weak layer of surface hoar and/or facets that will be most likely to trigger in wind affected terrain.

There are multiple persistent weak layers consisting of crust/facets or surface hoar in the top 200 cm of the snowpack.

The lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to buried surface hoar.
Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive 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.

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.