Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Mar 18 – 19, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.

Heavy rain and high freezing levels will continue to create very dangerous conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Persistent slabs remain problematic at treeline and above, especially in areas without a supportive crust above the weak layer. Warm temperatures and precipitation will make this problem more sensitive.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Rising freezing levels and rain will continue to weaken the upper snowpack. Wet loose avalanches have the potential to entrain lots of wet, heavy snow, especially at lower elevations, where the snow pack is moist to the ground.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Rising freezing levels and rain will continue to weaken the recent wind slabs. Open terrain above 2000 m will likely be the more active areas. Expect them to become increasingly reactive during this period of extensive warming.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how persistent slabs will react to the forecast weather.
  • We are uncertain about forecast rain amounts.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, natural wind slab avalanches (size 2) were reported from a north-east facing slope at 2150 m near Toby Creek. Several wet loose avalanche activities were also observed at all elevations up to 2000 m. Explosive controls near Panorama were able to trigger a persistent slab avalanche (35 to 50 cm deep) on a south-west treeline slope.

Looking ahead, natural avalanches are expected at all elevations due to continuous rain and elevated freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

High freezing levels and rain are continuing to weaken the 20 to 40 cm of surface snow.

A thick crust can be found on all aspects and is down 30 to 50 cm. The thickness of the crust (from 1 to 10 cm) depends on elevation.

Below this, two layers of concern vary in depth throughout the region. They are generally close together and in the top 100 to 120 cm of the snowpack.

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

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Thursday
Cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Friday
Cloudy. 10 to 30 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Wet avalanche activity may step down to deeply buried persistent weak layers at lower elevations.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

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