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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2026–Apr 17th, 2026

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.
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

Kootenay Boundary, Lizard-Flathead, Purcells, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

A weak layer of facets has been seen on the crust and may cause slabs to be slow to heal.

Investigate in your area, as information is limited.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
  • We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, east of Nakusp, there were a few large (size 2) storm slabs remotely triggered by a snowcat. Also west of Creston, ski cuts produced small storm slabs failing 25 cm deep.

Looking forward, riders could trigger storm slabs at higher elevations, particularly if they don't bond well to underlying crust.

Please consider submitting a MIN to let us know what you're seeing out there.

Snowpack Summary

Anywhere from 15 to 50 cm of snow has fallen on Tuesday and Wednesday. This snow either sits on moist snow around treeline or likely on a crust in the alpine. In some areas east of Nakusp, small, weak facets have been seen on the crust.

The snow also fell with moderate to strong winds, forming deeper deposits in lee terrain features. Below 1500 m, all this precipitation fell as rain, wetting an already wet and melting snowpack.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday
Sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Sunday
Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.