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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2026–Apr 19th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
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.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Lizard-Flathead, Purcells, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Strong sun and warming will increase the likelihood of both natural and human-triggered avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on southerly slopes around Kootenay Pass on Friday.

Strong sun and warming will increase the likelihood of both natural and human-triggered avalanches. Be increasingly cautious as the snowpack warms up and weakens.

This region is data sparse. Please consider submitting a MIN to let us know what you're seeing out there.

Snowpack Summary

Sun and rising freezing levels will turn snow moist during the day, warm temperatures overnight will prevent a crust from forming.

Where dry snow prevails. 15 to 50 cm of recent storm snow sits on moist snow around treeline or likely on a crust in the alpine. In some areas east of Nakusp, small, weak facets have been seen on the crust.

The snow also fell with moderate to strong winds, forming deeper deposits in lee terrain features. Below 1500 m, all this precipitation fell as rain, wetting an already wet and melting snowpack.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong.

Check out this Conditions Update for tips on managing the current spring conditions.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.

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.

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.