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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2026–Mar 10th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

Uncertainty about the status of buried weak layers will keep us tiptoeing around the mountains for now...

Confidence

Low

  • We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on the weekend including:

  • Numerous size 3-3.5 persistent slab avalanches at alpine and treeline elevations, running on one of the January or February layers.

  • Storm and wind slabs size 2-3, on all aspects and elevations, some being remotely triggered.

  • A natural loose wet cycle size 2-3 at treeline and below.

On Monday, persistent slabs were triggered primarily on the eastern side of the region. See this MIN for an example.

Snowpack Summary

10-30 cm of dry snow accumulates over a wind-sculpted landscape and crust below ~1900 m. Below, the upper snowpack may be moist, crusty and/or upside-down, depending on elevation and aspect.

Three problematic layers exist n the mid-snowpack. We suspect the recent storm cycle may have wiped them out, especially at low elevations, but we can't yet say for sure.

  • One or two surface hoar layers buried in February are found 60 to 120 cm deep, and in some areas these sit on a thin crust.

  • A deeper, widespread layer buried in late January, made up of surface hoar, facets, and/or a crust, sits 100 to 180 cm deep. Surface hoar within this layer is most preserved and largest in sheltered terrain at treeline and below.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

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.

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.