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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2026–Mar 18th, 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 Rockies, East Purcell, Moyie, Bull, Elkford East, Elkford West.

A big change in weather is on its way!

Mixed precipitation will add load to an upper snowpack with known weaknesses.

Choose only conservative terrain with no overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported.

We suspect that warming temperatures will initiate a wet loose avalanche cycle.

Snowpack Summary

High freezing levels and light rain are softening surface snow.

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

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

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

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 4 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 25 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

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.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.