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

Jan 9th, 2026–Jan 10th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Avalanche danger is expected to increase as snow and rain start overnight and continue into the weekend.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Avalanche Summary

The AvCan field team observed small natural wind slab avalanches on Mount Arrowsmith during the peak of Tuesday’s storm. Observations from the Prince of Wales Range on Wednesday suggest these slabs were becoming better bonded.

Moving forward into the weekend, new storm slabs are likely to form at higher elevations where precipitation falls as snow, while rain at lower elevations could create a significant loose wet avalanche problem.

Snowpack Summary

Snow tonight and tomorrow at higher elevations will accumulate atop wind-affected surfaces. Rain is likely around treeline elevations and below.

In sheltered areas, 30 to 50 cm of snow sits on a thick rain crust that formed last weekend. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and dense, with treeline depths averaging 100 to 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline, with a chance of higher values along the west coast. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Saturday
Cloudy. 15 to 35 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline, with a chance of higher values along the west coast. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday
Cloudy. 15 to 40 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday
Cloudy. 30 to 100 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

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.

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.