Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 26th, 2026–Apr 27th, 2026

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

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.

Solar input tomorrow will quickly shed recent storm snow (5–20 cm) on sun-exposed aspects. Lingering small wind slabs may persist at higher elevations. As always, early starts and early finishes.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

There is 5-15 cm of settled HST over a well developed crust on all aspects and elevations except north facing terrain above 2600m. There is wide spread wind effect and isolated small wind slabs in the surface snow at alpine elevations.

Weather Summary

Slight warming Monday. Valley temps near 7, ridge around 4. Freezing level rising to ~2100 m. Light west winds. High pressure brings mostly clear skies, with a chance of afternoon convective buildup.

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.