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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 15th, 2026–Apr 16th, 2026

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

Regions

Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

Investigate how the new snow is bonding to the underlying layers in your area.

Snowfall amounts vary greatly.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives broke off chunks of cornices on Monday. We haven't received recent reports of slabs being pulled below the falling cornices.

Looking towards Thursday, riders could trigger newly formed wind slabs at higher elevations.

Please consider submitting a MIN to let us know what you're seeing out there.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 to 25 cm of new snow has accumulated by Wednesday afternoon above 1500 m, while rain falls at lower elevations. The snow will be blown around by strong southwest wind, which may form wind slabs in lee terrain features near ridgetop. This new snow sits on moist snow or a hard melt-freeze crust.

A thick crust from mid-March is 30-60 cm deep, which extends up to about 2400 m. Near Invermere, a weak layer of facets may be found above this crust.

Facets are found near the bottom of the snowpack in shallow alpine snowpack areas. The lower snowpack is strong in deep snowpack areas.

The snowpack continues to melt at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. Up to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • 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.

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.