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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2026–Jan 24th, 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, LLSA.

This forecast area has a thinner snowpack than areas to the west, and in isolated areas a basal facet layer is prominent. A skier triggered avalanche occurred on this layer on Tuesday indicating that extra caution is required, especially on steep, shallow, alpine slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly deep persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported in this region on Friday.

However, on Tuesday, there was a skiier triggered size 2 in a steep, cross-loaded and thin snowpack alpine slope in the Lake Louise backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

There is extensive wind effect in the alpine with some surface faceting that may help break down the crusts creating some softer skiing. In protected areas treeline and below there is widespread surface hoar growth

Deeper in the snowpack is the layer of surface hoar, down 50-60 cm producing hard, sudden planar test results, but no recent avalanches. At the ground, basal facets exist in thin snowpack areas, but overall, this year's deeper snowpack is stronger than usual.

Weather Summary

The ridge of high pressure will remain through Sunday bringing generally clear and dry conditions. Saturday may see a few scattered flurries along the continental divide. Treeline day-time high temperatures will be in the -10 range on Saturday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Problems

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.