Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2026–Mar 2nd, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Warm temps, sun, and persistent weak layers are creating tricky conditions

Choose conservative low-angle terrain with no overhead hazard.

Check out this forecaster blog on conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

A serious avalanche accident occurred on Saturday on Thar Peak. Three skiers were bootpacking up a north-facing couloir when they triggered a size 3 persistent slab. All three skiers were partially buried and sustained serious injuries.

Another size 2 persistent slab avalanche was remotely triggered on the southeast aspect of Thar Peak on Saturday.

See photos for more details.

Looking forward, large human-triggered persistent slab remains the main concern.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been heavily affected by previous strong to extreme southwesterly winds. Expect scoured windward slopes and wind slabs at all elevations on lee slopes.

A melt-freeze crust may be found on sunny slopes and at lower elevations. This surface crust will likely soften with sun and daytime warming.

A persistent weak layer consisting of a crust/ facet layer from late January can be found 40 to 60 cm deep across the region. This layer has been reactive in recent days.

The snowpack below is strong and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Monday

Sunny. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.
  • The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

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.

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.

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.