Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Mar 24 – 25, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

Freshly formed storm slabs will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Persistent weak layers may linger in the upper snowpack. Triggering may be possible in areas without a thick/supportive crust above the weak layer, most likely at upper elevations. Cornice falls are most likely to trigger this problem.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Forecast 15 to 25 cm of new snow and strong southwest winds may form storm slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Monday.

Last week's rain and warm temperatures triggered a widespread natural slab avalanche cycle up to size 3.5.

If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing conditions via the MIN.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Snowpack Summary

Forecast 15 to 25 cm of new snow and strong southwest winds may form storm slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

New snow sits over a melt-freeze crust to 2100 m in the north, rising to the mountain top in the south.

Below this, 30 to 50 cm of moist snow sits above a crust (1 to 10 cm thick). Various persistent weak layers may still exist in the top 120 cm of the snowpack. These may remain possible to trigger at upper elevations in areas where the crust above the weak layer is thin.

In shallow snowpack areas, depth hoar (large facets) can be found near the bottom of the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 3 to 15 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level valley bottom, rising to 1000 m.

Friday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level valley bottom, rising to 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeply buried weak layers and result in very large avalanches.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

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