Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 28th, 2026–Mar 1st, 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

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Stewart.

Natural avalanches are expected as more snow and strong winds continue to load the snowpack

Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

We are confident the likelihood of avalanches will increase with the forecast weather.
We are uncertain due to how buried persistent weak layers will react with the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3 has occurred. Most activity occurred on north through east aspects at treeline and alpine elevations.

Several avalanches have reportedly run on the mid February surface hoar. Further loading by snow and wind will likely trigger another natural cycle.

Snowpack Summary

By Sunday afternoon, another 20-60 cm of storm snow will bring recent storm totals to 180 cm on the immediate coast and taper to 70 cm away from the coast.

New snow is again accompanied by strong to extreme southwest wind, forming deeper deposits on north and east facing terrain. In sheltered terrain surface hoar or a sun crust sits below the storm snow.

Several weak layers of crust, surface hoar or facets are buried 95 to 180 cm deep. These layers are most concerning in sheltered treeline features.

Below, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 25 cm of snow, heavier amounts possible in immediate coastal terrain. 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

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.
Avalanches could start at higher elevations and travel into below treeline terrain.
Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.

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.

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.