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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2026–Mar 16th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

The hazard is starting to increase with warmer temps, more wind and more snow. Pull back into more conservative terrain as things change.

Ski conditions are good, but the reactivity of the persistent weak layer is highly variable. If this layer is triggered, it can produce a large avalanche.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the timing, track, and intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of skier-triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 occurred on Saturday and Sunday. One was a small wind slab on Bow Peak, and the larger one appeared to fail on a persistent layer down 50-60 cm on Mt Bourgeau.

Several other natural avalanches up to size 3 in the past 48 hrs, were observed during a flight on Sunday, failing as wind slabs or persistent slabs.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slabs are forming at treeline and above with moderate to strong SW winds. 20-50 cm of snow over the March 8 rain crust, which extends up to 1900 m on all aspects, with buried sun crusts at higher elevations. The Jan 24 persistent layer is down 40-110 cm, and is primarily surface hoar at treeline and below in Kootenay and Yoho, and facets at all elevation bands in other areas. Below this, the snowpack is well settled with no significant weaknesses.

Weather Summary

Monday: 2-10 cm of snow with the most near the divide. Winds are increasing to strong out of the SW with freezing levels rising to 2200 m Monday night. Snow picks up in the evening.

Tuesday-Thursday: The forecast for the middle of the week is for strong winds, 20-50+ cm of snow, and freezing levels up to 2500 m. Stay tuned...

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.