Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Jan 13 – 14, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

New storm slabs are adding more load to buried persistent weak layers.

Don't let the fresh powder lure you into consequential terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    A persistent weak layer of surface hoar is buried 40 to 60 cm deep in some areas of the region. Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Recent snow accompanied by moderate to strong southwest winds has built reactive storm slabs. These slabs may step down to deeper persistent layers triggering larger than expected avalanches.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    A crust with weak facets and/or depth hoar exists at the base of the snowpack in many areas. This layer is most likely to be triggered in thin snowpack areas less than a meter deep, or with very heavy loads.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to how buried persistent weak layers will react with the forecast incoming weather.

Avalanche Summary

Sunday

  • Explosives triggered a few size 1 slabs. They failed on a persistent weak layer of surface hoar below treeline.

Saturday

  • A few small wind slabs were ski cut at treeline and below treeline elevations. They failed on a buried layer of surface hoar.

  • A large (Size 2) naturally-triggered wind slab failed on a north-facing alpine slope.

Looking forward

  • We expect the danger to rise as precipitation accumulates on Monday night and temperatures rise.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow combined with strong southwesterly winds is expected to continue building storm slabs on Monday night. These slabs are expected to be most reactive in wind-loaded areas

Around 40 to 60 cm of snow overlies a persistent weak layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes. New storm snow may overload these layers, creating large avalanches.

A deep persistent weak layer consisting of a thick melt-freeze crust, with weak faceted snow and/or depth hoar, can be found near the ground in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 0 to 3 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Thursday
Sunny. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level around 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.

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