Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 11 – 12, 2026Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 9 months ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Good ski quality can be found in sheltered locations.

Continued winds and above average temperatures forecasted.

There is uncertainty regarding how widespread a buried surface hoar layer is at treeline and below. Look locally for its presence and test for its reactivity.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent winds have created wind slabs in exposed alpine and treeline areas this week. Strong to extreme winds Saturday have stripped windward terrain and sublimated recent snow. Forecasted winds Sunday will contribute to the problem.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Surface hoar buried Jan 3 sits 20–60 cm deep, deepest in Yoho. Warming may consolidate the overlying slab and increase reactivity where present. This layer is not widespread, but small avalanches at Sunshine, HWY93S and Mt. Field were reported over the last week. Test for reactivity.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    A layer of facets near the ground remains well established. In deep snowpack areas (western side), we have minimal concerns; our concern is mainly on the east side of the forecast area and especially in thin-to-thick snowpack transitions, where large, deep avalanches remain possible.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday ski hills reported small wind slab avalanches with explosive control. A natural cornice fall size 2 was observed on Mt. Bourgeau

Avalanche control on Mt. Bourgeau Friday evening had no results.

Snowpack Summary

Overall, the snowpack is stronger than normal. 30-50 cm of recent storm snow with W-SW winds has formed 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 more prominent on Hwy93S and in Yoho.

There is 50-90 cm over the Dec 15 melt-freeze crust, present to 1800-2000 m, and 100-200 cm over the November facet/crust interfaces. In thinner snowpack areas, facets are present at the base

Weather Summary

Saturday night: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h

Sunday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: High -5 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h

Monday: Flurries. Accumulation: 10-22 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -5 °C, High -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h

Environment Canada weather tables

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.

Regions covered