Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2026–Apr 13th, 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, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Columbia, Esplanade, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat.

High freezing levels and new precipitation are keeping the danger elevated.

New and reactive wind slabs may be building above the rain line.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Avalanche Summary

A natural cycle of wet loose avalanches has occurred over the past several days, generally in the size 1 range, with isolated cases up to size 3 reported.

On Saturday, a very large cornice broke off and triggered a subsequent slab on a north-facing alpine slope.

With continued high freezing levels and moderate precipitation in the forecast, we may see avalanche conditions become more reactive on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 15 mm of rain may fall below 2000 m overnight and through Monday. Above the rain line, new snow will likely be forming reactive new wind slabs on lee north through easterly slopes.

Below the rain line, a melt-freeze crust caps the snowpack, which may melt, turning the surface wet or moist, and creating the potential for wet loose sluffing.

Crusts from late March are buried 10 to 80 cm deep, elevation and aspect dependent.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong with no additional layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m dropping to 2000 m.

Monday
Cloudy. 2 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
Use appropriate sluff management techniques.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.

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.

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.