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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 21st, 2026–Apr 22nd, 2026

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

Kootenay Boundary, Purcells, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Crawford, St. Mary, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Use caution in steep terrain where the snow is wet and slushy. Continue to give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
  • The snowpack structure is well understood.

Avalanche Summary

Many small wet loose and slab avalanches were observed during warm weather over the past few days. They've been observed on all aspects and elevations. A few cornices also released naturally during warm weather.

Similar avalanches are possible on Wednesday as warm weather continues.

Please consider sharing your observations via the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Warm air and rain have wet the snow surface to mountain top.

Numerous crusts are found in the upper section of the snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack is strong.

The snowpack continues to melt below treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.