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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2026–Mar 20th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Shames, Stewart.

Large storm slabs will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about alpine conditions due to limited field observations.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural storm slab avalanche cycle occurred over the last five days on all aspects/elevations. Storm slabs up to size 2.5 were reported at treeline and below.

There have been very limited alpine observations, but we suspect numerous natural very large avalanches (size 3.5 or larger) have occurred.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snowfall amounts have varied from 85 to 140 cm, with the highest amounts being in the south of the region. The recent snow and strong southwest winds have formed reactive storm slabs overlying a weak layer of surface hoar and/or facets. This weak layer will make large storm slabs more likely to trigger.

There are multiple persistent weak layers consisting of crust/facets or surface hoar in the top 200 cm of the snowpack.

The lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to buried surface hoar.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.