Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2026–Jan 11th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Cariboos, South Columbia, Blue River, Clearwater, Quesnel, Esplanade, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk.

630 am update: Be alert to rising avalanche danger as a new storm arrives Sunday. The new snow adds load to a buried weak layer of surface hoar that has been reactive recently.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

Last week, widespread avalanche activity size 2 to 3, was observed on a recently buried layer of surface hoar on a variety of aspects at all elevations. Many were triggered by humans, including several remotely triggered from ridgetops or low angle terrain.

As new snow load accumulates over this layer, a resurgence in this kind of avalanche activity can be expected.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is accumulating over settling snow from last week. The new snow arrives with wind, loading lee features at exposed elevations.

A problematic layer of surface hoar is buried 60 to 100 cm deep. Widespread avalanche activity was observed on this layer over the past week.

The prominent mid-December crust is buried 100 to 150cm deep, and is present up to 2300 m. Triggering this layer is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow in most areas. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 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.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
As the storm slab problem worsens, the easy solution is to choose more conservative 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.

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.