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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 18th, 2026–Jan 19th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Tumbler.

An above freezing layer continues, keeping cornices on our mind.

Where the sun peaks out during the day, be aware of cornices while travelling on or below them.

Confidence

High

  • Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Avalanche Summary

In the past 3 days, reports of avalanche activity has been limited to:

  • a few cornice falls

  • pinwheeling and small loose wet avalanches out of steep solar aspects at alpine and treeline elevations

This type of activity is becoming less likely with cooling alpine temperatures and repeated melt-freeze cycling on solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

A widespread melt-freeze crust extends up to at least 2200 m. On shady aspects in the high alpine, dry snow is wind affected and firm. Cornices loom large.

The prominent mid-December facet/crust layer is buried over 1 m deep and extends up to 2200 m. Triggering the crust is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Problems

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.