Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Mar 1 – 2, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warm temps, sun, and persistent weak layers are creating tricky conditions

Choose conservative low-angle terrain with no overhead hazard.

Check out this forecaster blog on conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Previous strong southerly winds built wind slabs on lee slopes. These winds affected areas farther downslope than normal and could be especially reactive where they overlie surface hoar.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Several persistent weak layers of surface hoar, facets or crusts may exist in the top meter of the snowpack. Wind slabs or wet loose sluffs could step down to this layer causing larger than expected avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Sun and rising temperatures will melt the surface snow on sunny slopes and at lower elevations, creating the potential for wet loose sluffs. Avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazard when the snow surface is wet.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Friday

Several skier-triggered slabs and one vehicle-triggered slab (up to size 2) were reported, along with numerous instances of whumpfing. All activity occurred at treeline and below on north through east aspects.

Thursday

Several size 1-1.5 wind slabs were triggered by people, including remotely. They failed on a layer of surface hoar under the storm snow.

Tuesday

A fatal, human-triggered (size 3.5) wind slab was triggered on a wind-loaded slope. MIN post here

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme southerly winds have created widespread wind effect and built wind slabs on lee slopes.

A melt-freeze crust can be found on sunny slopes and at lower elevations. This surface crust will likely soften with sun and daytime warming.

A couple of persistent weak layers buried in the last week may exist in the upper 30 to 60 cm of the snowpack. These consist of surface hoar, facets and crusts.

Buried around 60 to 100 cm is a prominent, persistent weak layer of facets and crust from early February.

The remaining snowpack appears to be strong and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Clear skies. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Sunday
Sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.



More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

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