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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2026–Mar 17th, 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

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Moyie.

6:30 Update to Treeline hazard

Temperatures are on the rise! Be alert to changing conditions.

Continually assess as you travel and avoid terrain with overhead hazards like cornices.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the timing, track, and intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, several small rider-triggered wind slab avalanches were reported.

On Sunday, a size 3 avalanche was reported in the Lizard Range below a steep headwall with a 2 meter crown. The avalanche was naturally triggered by a cornice.

On Friday, in the Flathead a naturally triggered size 2.5 on a north aspect below a steep headwall in the alpine. and a machine triggered size 1.5 Persistent Slab was reported in the Flathead.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and looming. Avoid traveling underneath them.

Strong winds are redistributing recent storm snow and developing wind slabs at all elevations.

A 1 to 10 cm thick crust on all aspects and is down 30 to 50 cm. The thickness of the crust depends on elevation.

At upper elevations, where the crust is thinner or not present, it may still be possible to trigger persistent slabs on multiple buried weak layers of surface hoar and/or crusts in the top 120 cm of the snowpack.

The mid/lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Cloudy. 1 cm of snow at treeline. 80 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 1 cm of snow at treeline. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 5 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.