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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 2026–Mar 7th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Strong winds, additional precipitation, and rising freezing levels make the trifecta of avalanche hazard.

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.
  • We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.
  • We are uncertain if precipitation will fall as rain or snow.

Avalanche Summary

Last weekend, numerous large (up to size 3) avalanches were reported, both natural and human triggered, all suspected to have failed on the late January crust/facet layer. They were mostly at treeline, although two human triggered avalanches were in open, alpine or alpine-like terrain.

Looking forward, we expect that humans are likely to trigger avalanches in the recent storm snow, that could become larger and more destructive if they step-down to deeper weak layers.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40 cm of moist snow has fallen in the alpine, rapidly tapering to 5 cm below treeline. This new snow, combined with continued strong west winds, makes for deeper and more reactive slabs in leeward and cross-loaded terrain.

Rain has saturated the top 10 to 20 cm below treeline turning the snow isothermal.

The new and settling snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects and lower elevations, and wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations.

50-150 cm below the snow surface on north aspects, two persistent weak layers can be found, buried in late January and early February. These weak, sugary facets (over a crust on the late January layer), have the potential to produce large, destructive avalanches.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Cloudy. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday
Cloudy. 3 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 25 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
  • Avalanche danger will rapidly increase if snow switches to rain.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

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.