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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 6th, 2026–Jan 7th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
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

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

The dominant theme of the past few days has been the wind, sustained SW moderate with strong gusts that have created windslabs in most exposed areas. Meanwhile, another 5-10 cm of snow is expected overnight, bringing Wednesday's storm snow total to 25-35 cm across the region. So, caution for windslabs and good powder below treeline.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that deep persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Both ski areas reported wind as the dominant theme, with explosives releasing size 1 hard slabs in exposed areas at both hills.

Another report from Rock Isle Lake near Sunshine of a remote triggered size 1, 30 cm deep on the Jan 2 surface hoar layer.

An interesting MIN report from Mt. Field on Monday showed a slab avalanche in the trees and we wonder if it might have run on surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

25-40 cm of storm snow has fallen over the past 4 days with continuous moderate SW winds forming fresh windslabs. In sheltered areas below treeline, this new snow sits on a layer of surface hoar buried on Jan 3, but this layer is not widespread, and no slab has formed above it yet.

There is 50-90 cm over the Dec 15 melt-freeze crust, which is present to 1800-2000 m, and 80-160 cm over the November facet/crust interfaces. In thinner snowpack areas, facets are present at the base.

Weather Summary

A strong westerly flow is pushing moisture across our area, delivering more snow overnight before ending early on Wednesday. Expect another 5-15 cm overnight, with most falling on the west side of the Wapta Icefields. Temperatures will remain steady around -10, and wind speeds will fall slightly but remain in the moderate (wind loading) range.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.

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.