Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2026–Feb 19th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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

Sugarbowl, McGregor, Pine Pass.

With all the recent strong wind, expect to find wind slabs in irregular terrain, even in openings below treeline.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received any reports of avalanches over the past couple days, though reports are limited. The AvCan field team did observe shooting cracks in openings (see photo), suggesting that wind slab avalanches could be triggered on steep slopes.

Looking forward, riders could trigger wind slab avalanches on any wind-loaded slope, even into below treeline terrain.

Please share any observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Strong northerly wind has formed wind slabs in southerly terrain, including in openings below treeline. Expect to find slabs in any steep opening.

The wind has stripped any recent snow in wind-exposed terrain down to the early-February melt-freeze crust. In wind-sheltered terrain, 50 cm of snow overlies the crust. Surface hoar may sit on the crust in treeline terrain features protected from the wind.

The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Partly Cloudy. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -23 °C.

Thursday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Friday
Mostly Cloudy. 2 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
  • Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.

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.