Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2026–Apr 17th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Regions

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

20-30 cm of recent snow with some wind has refreshed ski quality but will take a day or two to settle out.

The danger rating reflects the highest hazard of the day which will be linked to afternoon warming as the sun comes out over the next few days.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A size 2.5 with wide propagation in the storm snow was noted on the west end of Mt Rundle. This was in steep alpine terrain and likely cornice triggered.

Patrollers at both Sunshine and Lake Louise were able to trigger small windslabs / loose dry avalanches in steep alpine terrain. These were generally soft and predictable except at Lake Louise where there were a couple small harder slabs that were less predictably triggered.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of settling storm snow overlies crusts up to ridgetop on solar aspects and ~2300m on north aspects. Below this, the snowpack is generally well settled.

Weather Summary

A ridge is building over the region bringing clear skies, light winds and progressively warming temperatures over the next few days. Expect good freezes overnight with freezing levels rising to ~ 1900m on Friday, ~ 2300m on Saturday and ~ 2600m on Sunday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
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 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.