Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 10 – 11, 2026Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 9 months ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Continued strong winds and warm temperatures are expected to keep the hazard elevated through the weekend.

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

Good ski quality can be found in sheltered locations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    30-40 cm of recent storm snow, followed by moderate to strong winds, created generally small wind slabs in exposed alpine and treeline areas this week. Forecast strong west wind this weekend will contribute to the problem by forming new layers of reactive windslab with a broader distribution.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Surface hoar buried Jan 3 sits 20–45 cm deep, deepest in Yoho. Warming and sun may strengthen the overlying slab and increase reactivity where present. This layer is not widespread, but small avalanches at Sunshine and Mt. Field were reported over the week. Dig to confirm presence.

  • 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

Both Lake Louise and Sunshine ski hills got small size 1 - 1.5 wind slabs with explosives Thursday & Friday. Earlier in the week, Sunshine had a few on the Jan 3 surface hoar, and there was 1 report of a small avalanche on Mt. Field that was also on that layer.

Snowpack Summary

Overall, the snowpack is stronger than normal. 30-40 cm of recent storm snow with 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.

There is 40-80 cm over the Dec 15 melt-freeze crust, 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 upper ridge builds into the region over the weekend and into next week.

Saturday: the warmest day of the weekend, freezing levels rising to 1800 m, west winds 60 kmh becoming 40 kmh and no snow.

Sunday: slightly cooler, but still warm with freezing levels at 1500 m and windy.

Monday: snow - stay tunned amounts forecasted vary between models

Click here to see 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