Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2026–Feb 18th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

With 50cm of new snow, we are not currently seeing much avalanche reactivity. Continue to observe and adjust if you notice an increase in natural avalanche activity.

Monday night produced an additional 25cm. Excellent ski quality is back once again, inspect the bond of the new snow, old snow interface and allow the snowpack time to adjust to the new load.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Field teams in the black prince zone today.

Overall very limited visibility throughout the day.

1 small storm slab from steep SE facing terrain at TL, otherwise some loose dry from steep terrain and small skier controlled sluffs on steep 40° gully walls.

Snowpack Summary

An additional 25cm of snow from Monday evening brings the total storm snow to 50cm along the South part of the spray, about half of that towards engadine area.

This snow has been relatively untouched by the winds at treeline and below. The alpine has been out of view, but suspect there to be isolated wind slabs in immediate lee features. This new snow is sitting on top of various old surfaces, Melt freeze crusts on solar aspects and hard wind pressed snow on polar aspects, the bond between the new snow and old snow seems to be pretty good at this time. Below these old surfaces are a generally well settled snowpack. Previous problems in the snowpack such as the Jan surface hoar layer should be dug to and see if it exists where you choose to ski.

Weather Summary

Wednesday will see mostly cloudy ski's with the odd sunny period. Day time high of -11.

The winds over tuesday night will increase to the Moderate range out of the SW, But will weaken right down during the day Very light N wind.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.