Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2026–Jan 17th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

A layer of warm air is expected in the alpine today.

Cornices may fail as well as small wet loose avalanches.

Confidence

High

We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Avalanche Summary

A few small wet loose avalanches were reported on Thursday.

A crust has formed on the surface making avalanche activity unlikely.

A natural avalanche cycle occurred at the beginning of the week, many avalanches (size 1-2) occurred on all aspects and elevations.

Snowpack Summary

A crust or moist snow exists on the surface at most elevations due to recent rain and warm temperatures. Below this, the upper snowpack is slowly drying out with colder temperatures.

There are multiple crusts in the mid and lower snowpack, and it is generally dense and well-settled.

The average snowpack depth at treeline is roughly 150 to 200 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Saturday
Sunny. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Above freezing layer (AFL) in the alpine.

Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

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.
Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.
Avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.

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.

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.