Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2026–Feb 8th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Pack your assessment mindset to check out the new snow situation on Sunday and be ready to dial back your terrain choices if you encounter signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

Early reports from Saturday's storm in the Whistler area showed ski cutting and explosives producing size 1 releases in ridgetop lees in the morning, with snow and wind ongoing.

No reports yet from the Duffey, but slabs formed at higher elevations, especially where wind loaded, will remain a concern for Sunday.

On Friday, explosives control in the Duffey produced one size 1.5 avalanche that failed on basal facets in an area of very shallow snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

Saturday's storm should leave us with 15 to 30 cm of windblown new snow above treeline, tapering to a rain-soaked surface below about 1500 m.

Where new snow accumulated, it mainly buried a widespread crust, mostly thin but more supportive on sun-exposed slopes. It may add to heavily wind-affected dry snow on north-facing slopes above 2200 m.

Below the evolving surface, the thick late-January crust sits under about 40 cm of old snow. This snow is moist below 2000 m but may contain facets on higher north aspects.

The mid to lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong. Snowpack depth ranges from 150 to 250 cm at treeline elevations.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Becoming mostly clear after the storm finishes with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 20 - 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature falling to -6 °C.

Sunday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling to -6 °C. Freezing level 1400 m

Monday
Becoming mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.