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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2026–Apr 18th, 2026

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
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.

It is Spring time. High freezing levels and sunny skies will create unstable conditions in the afternoon when the day warms up. Start and end your day early.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A size one skier triggered wind slab in the alpine was reported from the Sunshine back-country on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of settled storm snow overlies crusts up to ridgetop on solar aspects and ~2300m on north aspects. Fresh surface crusts exist below treeline which will break down with day time heating. The lower snowpack is generally well settled.

Weather Summary

A ridge of high pressure exists over the forecast area. This will bring clear skies, and lots of sunshine. Expect good freezes overnight with freezing levels rising to 2300m on Saturday and 2600m on Sunday

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.

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.