Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2026–Jan 24th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson.

Enjoy the sun and spring-like skiing, on Sunday new snow finally returns to our mountains!

An above freezing layer combined with sunny weather opens the possibility of loose wet avalanches.

Confidence

High

We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

January 23

Numerous small to large loose wet avalanches were reported in the Shames backcountry area. There were also reports of glide cracks opening on many slopes.

January 20-22

No new avalanches reported

January 19

Numerous large (up to size 3) explosive triggered avalanche were reported. Mostly failing as cornices or persistent slabs.

January 18

A large (size 2) natural glide slab avalanche was reported below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine, a widespread melt freeze crust exists on solar aspects and within the band of recent above freezing layers. The rest of the alpine surface is quite firm and wind affected. Small pockets of stubborn wind slab may exist. Surface facetting has been noted on all these surfaces. The January 3rd surface hoar is still a layer of note and found between 100 and 250 cm deep.

At treeline and below treeline, the previously warm and wet surface snow has now become a robust melt freeze crust. Up to 30 mm surface hoar growth has been noted on this layer.

Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Above freezing layer 1000 to 2200 m.

Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Above freezing layer 1000 to 2200 m.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 25 cm of snow. 60 km/h ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.

Problems

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.