Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2026–Jan 13th, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

A warm wet storm in the kananaskis region right now. Snow at higher elevations and a mix of rain and snow at highway elevations. We have low confidence in the freezing levels. A good time to allow the snowpack to adjust to the change and keep your mindset conservative.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

A reported Skier accidental size 1 wind slab on easterly aspect below treeline on a steep convex roll.

Limited visibility today, A road patrol down the spray noted about 15cm of new snow South of burstall pass today.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps are creeping in to the region. Rain in Canmore and just below freezing temps along the spray with continuous precip falling, luckily as snow, but just barely. The snowpack is settling faster than the new snow is accumulating at most weather stations.

Up to 10cm of new snow has fallen in the past 12 hours, This new snow is not bonding well to previous surfaces. This continues to be transported at treeline and above by strong to extreme westerly winds creating windslabs 40-60cm thick in lee features. . As you transition into these areas be looking for these problems. These windslabs are overlying a generally well settled snowpack.

The deep persistent weakness is buried deep in the snowpack down 150-170cm. This layer was active as recently as last week being triggered from a thin shallow snowpack area. Always be curious about snowpack depths and be thinking how the snow has been moved around creating thin areas.

Below 2100m a layer of surface hoar (spotty distribution) is down 40cm and may be a concern as the snowpack settles with the incoming warmer temps.

Weather Summary

Monday pm: Varying forecasts have a snow fall spread of 8cm-25cm. A low temperature of -5. Winds will be strong out of the west

Tuesday: Cloudy with some sunny periods. A day time high of 0° with winds at 40km/h out of the west.

freezing levels rising to 2100m

https://hpfx.collab.science.gc.ca/~fsg006/productviewer/ab/table/AB_Rockies_Forecast.html

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avoid steep terrain, including convex rolls, or areas with a thin, rocky, or variable snowpack.

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.

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.