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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2026–Jan 11th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Moyie.

Reactive wind slabs have been catching people by surprise.

Be extra cautious in wind-affected terrain and give cornices a wide berth.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to limitations in the field data.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday:
Skiers accidentally triggered wind slabs on Mt.Fernie (MIN post here) and in Cabin Bowl - see photo.

Friday:
Several size 1 to 2 slab avalanches and cornice falls were reported in the Lizard Range. Some were accidentally triggered by skiers, while others were explosive controlled or natural. They all occurred in the alpine on wind-loaded northerly through easterly slopes.

Looking forward:
We expect wind slabs and cornices to remain triggerable on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow accumulated over the preceding week, combined with strong southwesterly winds, has built up large cornices and wind slabs on leeward aspects, especially near ridgetops.

A weak layer of surface hoar can be found in some sheltered terrain features buried 40 to 60 cm. In other areas, a melt-freeze crust can be found at similar burial depths, up to around 2000 m.

The mid and lower snowpack currently has no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level around 1400 m with possible temperature inversion.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 2 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Monday
Cloudy. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2800 m.


More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.

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.