Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2026–Mar 30th, 2026

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Dogtooth, East Purcell.

Storm instabilities are fading away, but they leave us with a snowpack that's hard to trust. Stay aware of overhanging cornices, the most likely trigger for a surprising large avalanche.

Confidence

High

We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has been tapering in the region and explosives control accounts for most of it. On Thursday, a control route north of the Bugaboos produced three persistent slabs, size 2 to 3.5; the largest propagated widely and ran full path.

A size 2 cornice and size 2 storm slab were among the results, all of which occurred at 2600 m or higher. A few small explosives-triggered and natural wind slab were reported east of Invermere.

If you get out for a look around, post a MIN!

Snowpack Summary

Light flurries have given a thin cover to sun crust on solar aspects and otherwise added to 20 to 35 cm of recent snow, which was redistributed by southwest wind and formed slabs on lee aspects a few days ago. Where sheltered, this snow is settling and bonding well to a thick crust found on all aspects up to at least 2200 m.

Various persistent weak layers may still exist in the top 150 cm of the snowpack and in shallow snowpack areas, depth hoar (large facets) can be found near the bottom of the snowpack. Large triggers, like falling cornices, may be able to trigger these layers at upper elevations where the crust below the recent snow is thin or absent.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature falling to -10 °C.

Monday
Mainly sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Tuesday
Mainly sunny. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature climbing to -5 °C as freezing level rises to 1500 m.

Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

Problems

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.

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.