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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2026–Apr 2nd, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Purcells, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Watch for wind slabs in steep terrain.

As new snow piles up, dial back your terrain choices and avoid terrain traps.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain whether the wind will be enough to form new wind slabs.
  • We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a rider triggered a large (size 2) storm slab that carried them a long way on the crust from March. They were uninjured. This occurred east of New Denver.

On Monday and Tuesday, a few small (size 1) natural and rider-triggered wind slabs were reported.

Several small dry loose and wet loose avalanches were also reported on Monday and Tuesday, up to size 1.5, both natural and rider-triggered.

Snowpack Summary

South-facing aspects have developed solar crusts near the surface; wind-affected surfaces are found elsewhere. 10 to 40 cm of snow sits on a crust of variable thickness, which can be found in most locations and has been the bed surface for most of the recent avalanche activity.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Thursday
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow, with the greatest amounts near the USA border. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Saturday
Mostly sunny. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.