Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Jan 15 – 16, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will drop as temperatures drop.

It's uncertain how quickly a buried weak layer will recover.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Up to 40 cm of heavy storm snow has formed a storm slab that will be deeper in wind-loaded areas.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    A layer of surface hoar is buried around 50 to 100 cm deep. It's uncertain if this layer is still active. As temperatures drop, the likelihood of triggering this problem will decrease.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, avalanche control produced several large (size 2.5) wet slabs near Kootenay pass.

On Monday and Tuesday, high temperatures caused a natural avalanche cycle. Producing many large (size 2-3) persistent slabs, wet slabs, and wet loose avalanches. There were also a few very large (size 3.5) persistent slabs.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels have likely gone above mountain top on Wednesday and with cooling temperatures forecast a surface crust is expected to form.

In the high alpine, up to 40 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by strong southwest winds.

A surface hoar layer currently buried 50 to 120 cm has been the failure layer in many recent avalanches. On south-facing slopes, this layer is a sun crust.

The remaining snowpack is generally well-bonded, with multiple crust layers present.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Thursday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Saturday
Sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

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.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Regions covered