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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2026–Mar 14th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

We should finally be on the home stretch with our persistent slab problems. A few more days of restraint and discipline before the next warm-up gets the Columbias to shed some layers.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

A week of uncertainty about lingering persistent slabs after the warmup, with enough activity to keep our guard up.

Among more predictable storm/wind slab activity Thursday, we had a size 2 on the Jan layer in Meadow Creek, unknown trigger, three natural size 2s southeast of Revy, and explosives controlled persistent slabs to size 4 in the Purcells (size 2 in the Adamants)

Wednesday we saw size 2 persistent slabs on unsupported features around 1800 m just west of Revelstoke.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow snow since March 7 totals 60 - 100 cm around Revelstoke and 30 to 50 cm farther south. It has been redistributed by southwest winds in exposed higher elevation terrain and sits on old wind-affected surfaces at treeline and above or on a crust, which extends up to 1900 m near Highway 1--closer to 2200 m in the south.

Three problem layers of surface hoar, facets and/or crust formed in January and February exist in the mid-snowpack, 1-2 m deep. They produced numerous destructive avalanches during the weekend warmup and sporadic releases in the days since, making them difficult to rule out, even as factors like a bridging crust at lower elevations have reduced their likelihood of triggering.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Partly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing a trace of new snow except for a band south of Revelstoke that may see 5 to 10 cm into the early morning. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud after flurries diminishing. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud with cloud increasing and afternoon flurries starting with a trace of new snow. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Monday
Cloudy with snowfall continuing from overnight bringing 25 to 40 total cm of new snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature reaching 0 °C as freezing level jumps to 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • 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.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and slopes above cliffs.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.