Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2026–Jan 18th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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.

Regions

Kispiox, Ningunsaw.

As the surface crust breaks down the likelihood of triggering an avalanche will increase.

It is uncertain how the continued warmth will affect the snowpack so watch for signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.
Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

January 16

A large (size 2) natural cornice triggered avalanche was reported on a northwest aspect.

January 14

A natural avalanche cycle was reported, with small (size 1) wet avalanches at lower elevations and large (up to size 2.5) wind or persistent slab avalanches in the treeline and alpine.

Snowpack Summary

80 to 150 cm of snow fell recently throughout the region. The snow has been heavily redistributed by strong southerly winds at upper elevations and has settled from warm temperatures at all elevations.

At treeline and below, recent rain and warm temperatures may have affected the surface snow. As temperatures cool this warm and wet snow has formed a stout melt freeze crust.

A layer of surface hoar is buried 40 to 70 cm deep in sheltered treeline features.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 150 cm to 250 cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.

Sunday
Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.