Avalanche forecast

Microwave-Sinclair

Mar 8 – 9, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wind slabs remain possible to human trigger.

Avoid wind-loaded slopes, especially where wind slabs overlie facets or in thin, rocky terrain where persistent slabs are easier to trigger.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Dry snow at upper elevations is being redistributed by moderate to strong winds.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    A buried layer of facets in the snowpack is expected to be more reactive in wind-affected thin rocky terrain features. Triggering of this layer is less likely where a supportive crust is present.

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

No new avalanches reported.

On the weekend, visibility was obscured. We expect there was some natural wind slab avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 5 to 10 cm of cold snow has fallen on a mix of moist or refrozen (20 to 30 cm) of storm snow.

During the storm, strong southwest wind heavily impacted terrain at treeline and above.

Two notable layers exist in the snowpack. A layer of facets from early February, up to 40 cm deep. A thick crust from late January, 50 to 100 cm deep. Both of these layers are a concern in wind-affected terrain.

The remainder of the snowpack is well settled.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °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.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Regions covered