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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2026–Jan 4th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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, Crowsnest South.

7 AM update: Slabs may form with new snow, while previously formed wind slabs may persist in exposed terrain. Watch for wet avalanches at and below treeline due to rain.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, explosives triggered a few slab avalanches up to size 2. Skiers were able to trigger size 1 slabs.

On Friday, small pocket wind slabs were reactive to skiers in immediate lee areas.

During recent explosive-control work, a few large (size 2 to 3) wind slab avalanches occurred in the Crowsnest area. While none of these avalanches propagated particularly wide, they all ran very far (full path) on old firm, buried crusts.

Snowpack Summary

Fresh snow covers a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on south-facing slopes. Below treeline, rain has moistened the snow surface.

20 to 40 cm of snow since Christmas continues to settle above a thin melt-freeze crust at elevations around 2000 m and below.

The mid and lower snowpack is characterized by multiple crusts, with moist snow persisting near the base in some areas.

Snow depths at treeline generally range from approximately 100 to 220 cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Problems

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.

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.