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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2026–Feb 18th, 2026

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

Regions

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

New snow has improved ski quality. Be on the look out for soft wind slabs that may exist in alpine lee areas.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise patrol reported triggering small size 1 low density windslabs and dry loose avalanches. Sunshine patrol reported numerous skier controlled soft wind slabs to size 1.5, most being size 1.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm of cold, dry snow will sits at the top of the snowpack and is available for wind loading. Winds have been light but expect windslabs in lee terrain. In isolated areas, the Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust) is down 12-35 cm at treeline and below – watch to see if this layer wakes up with the additional snow load. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.

Weather Summary

The snow has tapered off as a cold, stationary front moves in on Wednesday, bringing colder temperatures: valley around -14 and ridge around -18. Winds will remain relatively light through Wednesday, from the west.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.