Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2026–Jan 10th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Verify conditions as you gain elevation.

Wind slabs are possible where precipitation falls as snow, wet loose avalanches are possible where precipitation falls as rain.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

Several size 1 to 2 natural wind slab avalanches were observed on Wednesday. These avalanches occurred in steep terrain and may have been triggered by cornice failures.

No avalanches were reported on Thursday, but observations in the region are limited.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface is highly wind-affected in exposed terrain, in sheltered terrain up to 35 cm of soft snow can be found. Below 1300 m, a crust is present just below the surface.

A layer of facets is buried around 50 to 100 cm deep and is slowly gaining strength.

The mid and lower snowpack have no layers of concern. Snowpack depths are generally around 150-200 cm deep at treeline.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow at treeline, rain below. 40 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 10 cm of snow at treeline, rain below. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow in the alpine, rain at treeline and below. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow at treeline, rain below. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1°C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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.