Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 9 – 10, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Uncertainty remains around persistent weak layers.

Avalanches are unlikely where a supportive crust exists—stick to simple terrain where it thins or disappears.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs may sit over a crust, increasing reactivity. Look for signs of recent wind loading, winds have varied across the region and may be further downslope than you expect.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Buried weak layers remain possible for human triggering.

    Greatest concern is for north and east facing slopes at treeline, in terrain where no supportive surface crust exists.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.
  • We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, small wind-affected pockets remained reactive to rider traffic.

On Sunday, a natural avalanche cycle was reported to size 2.5, likely failing throughout the weekend during the warm and windy weather. Some slabs were suspected of failing on the buried January surface hoar layer.

Snowpack Summary

Strong west winds have redistributed light accumulations of storm snow at higher elevations.

Rain has formed a supportive crust to around 2000 m. Where this crust is absent or unsupportive, concern remains for the multiple persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets/crusts in the upper 1 m of the snowpack

The remaining snowpack has no current layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 35 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.

Regions covered