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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2026–Feb 5th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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.

The warmer and sunnier it becomes Thursday, the higher the hazard. Our hazard rating is for the highest potential hazard for the day.

The likelihood of triggering an avalanche on the Jan 24 surface hoar layer will increase as the overlying slab becomes thicker or denser.

Confidence

Low

  • We are uncertain due to the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose wet up to size 1 on steep south aspects. Debris from a recent size 2.5 (last 48 hours) was observed out of the north side of Mt. Stephen Tues. A size 2 out of the SE side of Brewster rock near Sunshine was also observed Tuesday.

Over the weekend multiple avalanche involvements were reported, up to size 2, all running 10-25 cm deep on the surface hoar/crust layer.

Your MIN reports are very useful when building our forecasts. Thank you all for past and future submissions

Snowpack Summary

Dry and moist snow depending on elevation and aspect (10-30cm) overlies the Jan 24th surface hoar, crust and/or previously wind affected snow. This surface snow is consolidating into a slab with warm temperatures and wind.

Widespread previous wind affect in alpine and exposed areas at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: High 2 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. Freezing level: 2900 meters.

Friday: Sunny. Alpine temperature: Low -1 °C, High 1 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level: 2600 meters.

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature: Low -3 °C, High -1 °C. Freezing level: 2200 meters.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use extra caution for areas that are experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.

Problems

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.