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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2026–Apr 14th, 2026

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

Regions

Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

Watch for changing conditions over the day. Storm snow may be reactive to human triggers, particularly in wind affected features.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the timing of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose wet avalanches and cornice falls have been reported this week. Moving forward, we expect new snow to be triggerable by riders, and continue to be suspect of large, overhanging cornices.

Observations from this region are very limited. Please consider submitting a MIN to let us know what you're seeing out there.

Snowpack Summary

By Tuesday afternoon, 5-15 cm of snow is expected. Deeper deposits are expected to form in north and east facing terrain features. New snow likely sits over a moist upper snowpack or a crust.

A thick crust from mid-March is 20-60 cm deep, which extends up to about 2400 m. Near Invermere, weak sugary facets may be found above this crust.

In shallow snowpack areas, depth hoar (large facets) can be found near the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depth tapers rapidly at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 5 cm of snow is expected in most areas, up to 15cm is possible in high elevation west Purcell terrain. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • 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.

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.