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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2026–Mar 4th, 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 avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Weak layers buried in the snowpack may be nearing a tipping point and becoming reactive. Avoid large, steep slopes, where the risk of a step-down avalanche is highest.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a large (size 3.5) avalanche was observed just south of Highway 16. While visibility was limited, it is suspected that the avalanche failed on a persistent weak layer and ran full path (~1km).

Over the weekend, evidence of a large avalanche cycle was reported in the Blue River area, initiated by stormy conditions late last week and strong solar effects over the weekend, up to size 4.

Snowpack Summary

Light snow beginning on Tuesday will bury a variety of old surfaces, including wind-affected snow in exposed terrain at higher elevations, a thin sun crust of south-facing slopes, and moist snow at lower elevations.

A layer of surface hoar, facets, and/or crust from late January is buried roughly 140 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 8 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.

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.