Avalanche forecast

Haines Pass

Mar 29 – 30, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 6 months ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating

Highlights

A dangerous, persistent weak layer remains the primary concern in the alpine

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazards.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Wind slabs will be most reactive below ridgetops and in cross-loaded features. If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    A persistent layer of facets/crust is buried 80 to 150+ cm, and has recently produced very large avalanches. It appears to be most reactive in areas closer to the coast with diminished reactivity further inland.

Snowpack Summary

At ridgeline and in exposed terrain, strong winds have left slabs and hard wind-pressed surfaces. Soft snow may still be found in wind-sheltered areas.

A persistent weak layer of facets and a crust is buried 80 to 150+ cm and extends up to around 1400 m. It continues to show reactivity in snowpack tests, and recent avalanches have failed on it. With the depth of this layer, the greatest concern for triggering is in shallow, thin to thick snowpack areas or from a large trigger, such as a cornice fall. It also appears to be most reactive in areas closest to the coast, with diminished reactivity further inland.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Friday & Saturday

  • Several naturally triggered size 1-2.5 slabs were observed on east through south aspects, at 1400 m and below.

Wednesday,

  • The field team saw both natural and rider-triggered slabs, see photos below.

Tuesday

  • Multiple widely propagating natural avalanches were observed, and a cornice was remotely triggered by sledders. More in this MIN.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Monday
Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.





More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Regions covered