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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2026–Mar 5th, 2026

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.
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.

Light snow and wind continue to form fresh slabs at higher elevations.

Any small avalanche in bigger terrain could step down to deeper layers and produce very large avalanches.

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

Roughly 10 to 20 cm of new snow continues to accumulate over previously wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain, over a thin sun crust on south-facing slopes, and on moist or crusty surfaces at lower elevations.

A layer buried in late January, consisting of surface hoar, facets, and/or crust, exists roughly 80 to 150 cm below the surface.

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

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • 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.