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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2026–Mar 5th, 2026

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack.

Dangerous avalanche conditions persist at all elevations!

The current snowpack is unusually complex and may show little or no warning signs before producing very large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

Large natural or rider-triggered persistent slab avalanches have been reported daily over the past week, ranging in size from 1 to 4 and occurring throughout the region at all elevations. A few have occurred in low-angle terrain that typically wouldn’t avalanche.

Although natural avalanche activity has slowed since the weekend, it remains uncertain at what point the small amounts of snow and light wind in the forecast could be enough to trigger new natural avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 100 cm of recent storm snow continues to settle atop an unusually complex snowpack.

Three persistent weak layers of concern are found in the upper 180 cm of the snowpack:

  • 60 to 70 cm down is a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, or a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes from mid-February.

  • 90 to 120 cm down is the early-February layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a crust on sun-exposed slopes.

  • 110 to 140 cm down is the late-January layer of surface hoar and facets over a melt-freeze crust.

All of these persistent layers have continued to produce large avalanches.

Below this, the remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • It's critical to stay disciplined and stick to gentle, low consequence terrain.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.
  • Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.

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.