Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 14th, 2026–Jan 15th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Clear skies could increase hazard on steep southerly slopes as the day progresses

Mt. Cathedral and Mt Stephen will be CLOSED on Thursday, January 15th. See banner above

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive and RACs avalanche control on Mt. Dennis, Mt. Stephen. Mt. Field and Mt. Bosworth today produced results up to size 2.5 and consistently produced size 2's. Two natural avalanches in thin alpine areas was observed on the flight to Banff. Ski hills reported windslab avalanches to size 2 with explosive control. Otherwise no other new avalanches observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

A crust has likely formed up to 2000m and higher on southerly slopes. Recent HST, up to 60cms has settled and overlies the January 3rd interface which in isolated places contains surface hoar. At ridgetop cornices and windslab may be found on lee aspects. 50-95 cm overlies 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

Wednesday night: Clear. Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 50 km/h.

Thursday: Sunny. Alpine temperature: High -5 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday: Sunny. Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -6 °C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

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

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.