Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2026–Jan 12th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

New snow, strong wind and warming temps may increase the danger rating if more snow falls than forecasted.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today. Limited visibility in the spray valley.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow continues to be transported around at treeline and above by strong to extreme westerly winds creating windslabs 40-60cm thick in lee features. As you transition into these areas be looking for these problems. These windslabs are overlying a generally well settled snowpack

The deep persistent weakness is buried deep in the snowpack down 150-170cm. This layer was active as recently as last week being triggered from a thin shallow snowpack area. Always be curious about snowpack depths and be thinking how the snow has been moved around creating thin areas.

Below 2100m a layer of surface hoar (spotty distribution) is down 40cm and may be a concern as the snowpack settles with the incoming warmer temps.

Weather Summary

Monday: Varying models show a storm moving in, 10-20cm of snow., day time high of -3. The wind will be strong to extreme out of the West. Freezing levels to rise to 1900m

https://hpfx.collab.science.gc.ca/~fsg006/productviewer/ab/table/AB_Rockies_Forecast.html

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep terrain, including convex rolls, or areas with a thin, rocky, or variable snowpack.
Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.