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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 5th, 2026–Jan 6th, 2026

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Heavy snowfall, strong winds and slowly increasing temperatures are pushing the danger rating to High.

Avoid all avalanche terrain and allow this new storm slab to settle and bond.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
  • Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Storm slabs were reactive to skier traffic and explosive control around Whistler over the past weekend. Numerous small slabs (up to size 1.5) were reported on alpine northerly and easterly slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of new snow is found at treeline. This new snow will overlie a variety of surfaces, including a crust on south-facing aspects, wind-affected snow on north-facing terrain above 2100 m, and surface hoar on isolated, sheltered features.

The mid-December crust is 100 to 200 cm deep and well-bonded to the snow above. Above 2200 m, this crust is absent and a layer of facets and a crust from November is found at the base of the snowpack. These layers are not currently a concern.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 25 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 25 to 45 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 20 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
  • Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.