Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2026–Apr 14th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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.

A low-pressure system will bring another blast of winter to the alpine. Watch for developing wind slabs as snow accumulates through the day Tuesday.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain if precipitation will fall as rain or snow.
We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported Monday.

Snowpack Summary

3 to 15 cm of new snow overlying sun and temperature crusts on all aspects to 2300 m, and to ridge top on solar aspects. True north aspects hold dry, settled snow above 2300 m. The Jan 24 layer is down 70 to 160+ cm over a generally strong snowpack.

Weather Summary

A low-pressure system will move into the region Monday night. As the system approaches, upper-elevation winds will increase to strong from the southwest. Precipitation will intensify through the day Tuesday, with snowfall accumulations at upper elevations ranging from 5 to 20 cm, with higher amounts expected in the north. 1700m freezing levels are expected throughout the day.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.

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.