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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2026–Jan 4th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Expect storm slab reactivity to increase throughout the day. Accumulating snow will further stress a weak layer buried on Christmas.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, natural storm slab avalanches and explosive-triggered avalanches up to size 2 were observed around Kootenay Pass.

Snowpack Summary

Fresh snow is gradually burying a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on south-facing slopes at treeline and above.

Since Christmas, approximately 30 to 60 cm of snow has accumulated over a melt-freeze crust that is thin or absent in alpine terrain but thicker and more widespread at treeline and below.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and consolidated, with multiple crust layers present.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow, rain at lower elevations. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Sunday

Cloudy. 10 to 30 cm of snow, rain at lower elevations. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.