Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2026–Mar 22nd, 2026

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

Regions

South Rockies, East Purcell, Bull, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Avalanches are possible at upper elevations where dry new snow fell.

Travelling conditions are tricky where a surface crust exists.

Make observations and continually assess conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

Continued evidence of a widespread wet cycle, with numerous natural avalanches (up to size 2.5-3), was reported throughout the region.

These included wet loose, wet slabs and persistent slabs. Many features have run full path (up to size 4) and reached the valley bottom.

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

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow has fallen at upper elevations. This overlies a developing melt-freeze crust and/or wet surface snow.

Below this, 30 to 50 cm of wet snow sits above a crust (1 to 10 cm thick).

The widespread avalanche cycle has likely flushed most of the persistent slabs in the top 120 cm of the snowpack, but some may still linger in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.

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

The lower snowpack is soaked at lower elevations.

As freezing levels drop, a widespread crust will form on all aspects at all elevations.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly clear. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Sunday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4°C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3°C. Freezing level 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.