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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 2026–Mar 7th, 2026

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 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

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

Precipitation and warming temperatures coupled with reactive persistent weak layers is keeping hazard elevated.

Conservative decision making is essential.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.
  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a large persistent slab avalanche was reported that was remote triggered by a snowcat.

On Wednesday, warm temperatures and precipitation supported the release of sluffs and pinwheels, with up to size 1.5 wet loose avalanche activity being reported.

A large skier triggered persistent slab avalanche occurred just north of the region. The slab height was roughly 60 cm deep on the Feb 14th surface hoar layer.

Snowpack Summary

Fluctuating freezing levels will bring mixed precipitation with up to 10 cm of snow above 2000 m by end of day Saturday. Below this, a new surface hoar/surface crust layer has been buried.

In the top 100 cm of the snowpack, there are multiple concerning persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets/crusts. The majority of the recent large and destructive avalanches occurred on well-preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below.

The remaining snowpack has no current layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Saturday
Cloudy. 2 to 4 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Any steep opening in the trees should be treated as suspect right now.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.