Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Apr 2 – 3, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Assess for wind slab and know what’s above you.

Route selection should take both wind slabs and cornice hazard into consideration.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Keep your head up and look for overhead hazard. Minimize time travelling under these hhazards.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs may be found in the immediate lee of peaks and ridges, and may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Over the past couple days numerous natural cornice failures were reported. Even without triggering slabs on the slopes below debris piles were up to size 2.5.

Numerous skier triggered dry loose and wind slab avalanches were also reported. These avalanches were triggered in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions are highly variable:

·        In exposed alpine and treeline terrain recent variable wind may have scoured ridge tops and formed small wind slabs in lee features.

·        Sheltered treeline features likely still hold up to 30 cm of low density snow.

·        A crust exists on or near the surface on sun exposed slopes at treeline and below

Convective flurries over the past two weeks have deposited highly variable amounts of snow above the atmospheric river crust. Depending on drainage and elevation, you may find 30 to 100 cm above this crust, which extends to at least 2300 m.

Older weak layers are unreactive and buried at least 150 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

Regions covered