Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 4 – 5, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Shady aspects continue to offer good skiing. Large cornices are a concern, as they can trigger deeper layers in the snow.

Mainly cloudy conditions should minimize the effect of higher freezing levels on Sunday, but monitor locally.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Snow and wind from last week formed wind slabs that may still linger in alpine terrain. We have had few reports of these lately but suspect there are still lingering pockets that may be reactive

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    A facet/crust interface from Jan is buried 70–160+ cm deep. In the alpine, large triggers, such as cornice falls or surface avalanches, may initiate this layer.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Lingering wind slabs persist in the alpine. Sun crusts on solar aspects up to ridgeline. Shady aspects hold dry settled snow above 2100 m. The March 20th rain crust is 10 to 50cm deep and extends up to 2100-2300 m. The Jan 24th persistent weak layer of facets and crust is down 70-160+ cm and becoming non-reactive. Below this, the snowpack is solid with no significant weaknesses.

Weather Summary

Sunday - Mainly cloudy with trace amounts of snow, light to moderate ridgetop winds, and freezing levels rising to 2400m

Monday: much the same, with some sunny patches and 2600m freezing levels.

Tuesday - 5cm, mainly cloudy and dropping freezing levels.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.

Regions covered