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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2026–Apr 19th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Seven Sisters, Howson, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Slab avalanches are possible on high-elevation north-facing slopes where dry snow exists.

Loose wet avalanches are expected with high freezing levels and little to no overnight refreeze.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

Several loose wet avalanches, up to size 2, were reported on Friday during periods of warming and sun exposure.

On Wednesday in the Seaton area, numerous natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were observed. A large (size 2.5) naturally triggered persistent slab avalanche on a south-facing slope at 1800 m was reported.

If you’re heading into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report—observations are particularly limited this time of year.

Snowpack Summary

On northerly, shaded alpine terrain, up to 30 cm of recent snow is continuing to settle and bond over a crust formed earlier in April. This early-April crust is strong and supportive at elevations of 1600 m and below, but gets thinner and weaker at higher elevations. Crusty surfaces are expected on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations.

A layer of weak, sugary snow over a thick crust is buried 100 to 200 cm and continues to produce large, surprising avalanches.

Check out this Conditions Update video for tips on managing the current spring conditions.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Sunday
Cloudy. 1 to 4 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 1 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.