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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2026–Mar 22nd, 2026

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

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Danger is elevated in alpine terrain where recent wind has formed large slabs and cornices.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread cycle of wet avalanches occurred Wednesday through Friday, producing both slab and loose avalanches up to size 3, along with cornice failures.

With cooler temperatures, the main concern has shifted to lingering wind slabs and cornices in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

A surface crust is forming below 2000 m, capping wet snow beneath. Above 2000 m, dry snow from the storm sits over moist snow that is gradually refreezing. The amount of dry snow in the alpine is highly variable due to wind and fluctuating freezing levels.

Deeper in the snowpack, older weak layers 70 to 100 cm deep were active during the recent cycle but are now unlikely to be a concern as the snowpack strengthens.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with sunny periods. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 cm of snow. 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.