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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2026–Mar 14th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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 natural cycle of avalanche activity is tapering, but skier triggered avalanches are still possible. Easing slowly into more challenging terrain is recommended.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Skihills reported numerous explosive triggered storm/wind slabs in the alpine up to size 1.5. Several explosive triggered persistent slabs on up to 2.5 were also reported.

Of note Sunshine reported a size 3.5 natural persistent slab in adjacent backcountry terrain (Back side of Delirium Dive).

A field trip to Mt Ogden area reported lots of recent sluffing out of steep terrain, but no recent slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

25-50 cm settled storm snow overlies a well developed crust on all aspects below 1900m and up to 2400m on solar aspects. The Jan 24th persistent layer (Surface hoar and /or facets) is down 40-100cm and producing moderate to hard results with stability tests. This layer has been most reactive in Kootenay and Yoho areas.

Weather Summary

Saturday: Mixed sun and cloud. Possibility of light flurries. Tree-line temperatures around -12. Ridge top winds are light.

Sunday: Mixed sun and cloud. Treeline Tree-line temperatures around -10. Ridge top winds are light.

A warming trend with increasing winds is forecast for Monday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.

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.