Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2026–Mar 10th, 2026

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, North Columbia, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, Renshaw, Robson.

Cool temperatures strengthen the snowpack but the status of buried weak layers remains uncertain.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred during the storm on the weekend including:

Numerous size 3 persistent slab avalanches at all elevations, but most at treeline. These are suspected to have run on the February crust layer.
Storm and wind slabs size 2-3, on northeast to southeast aspects at alpine and treeline elevations.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of dry snow accumulates over a wind-sculpted landscape and crust below ~1700 m.

A few layers buried between late January and mid February, consisting of surface hoar, facets, and/or crust, are buried roughly 100 to 150 cm below the surface. We suspect the recent storm cycle may have wiped them out, especially at low elevations, but we can't yet rule them out with any certainty.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, with no other significant layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

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.

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.