Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2026–Mar 22nd, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Purcells, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Avalanches are possible at upper elevations where dry new snow fell.

Travelling conditions are tricky where a thick surface crust is present.

Continually assess conditions as you travel.

Confidence

Moderate

We are confident due to a stable weather pattern.
We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

Continued evidence of a widespread wet cycle, with numerous natural avalanches (up to size 3-3.5), was reported throughout the region. These included cornice falls, wet slabs and loose wet avalanches from all aspects and elevations.

Several persistent slabs were also running naturally with impressive propagation. Some features have run full path, reaching the valley bottom.

If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing conditions via the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5 cm of new snow has fallen at upper elevations. This overlies a developing melt-freeze crust and/or wet surface snow.

Below this, 30 to 50 cm of wet snow sits above a crust (1 to 10 cm thick), buried in early March.

The widespread avalanche cycle has likely flushed the persistent slabs in the top 120 cm of the snowpack, but may still linger in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.

The mid/lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

The snowpack rapidly diminishes at lower elevations and is moist to the ground in shallower areas.

As freezing levels drop, a widespread crust will form on all aspects at all elevations.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly clear. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level to valley bottom.

Sunday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow or rain. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

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.