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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2026–Mar 10th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Banff, East Side 93N, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

The avalanche cycle that occurred on Sunday has now ended thanks to the onset of colder temperatures, but although the natural cycle has ended, the potential for human triggering remains, both from recent windslabs as well as buried persistent weak layers. Tuesday looks like a gentle day, then more snow is expected on Wed and Thurs.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Observations of yesterday's cycle include a large natural avalanche (size 3+) in the main Healy Creek path, as well as another large avalanche off the Quartz Ridge near Sunshine Village. Down near Field, Guiness Gully ran and hit the side of the road, Mt Stephen glacier path ran into the snowshed, and Mt Dennis (left of the climbs) ran size 2.5 into the runout zone.

Today, Sunshine patrol triggered size 1.5-2 windslabs with explosives.

Snowpack Summary

Sunday's 20-40 cm of snow was blown into windslabs by extreme winds, and fell as rain to almost 2000 m, causing a widespread avalanche cycle. Monday's temperature drop of 12 degrees has created a crust to 2000m with 5-10 cm of dry snow on the surface. Windslabs remain in the alpine, but they are less reactive due to the cold. The layer of facets (Jan 24) down 40-60 cm remains at treeline and above, and we expect it to still be reactive.

Weather Summary

Our region is now under the influence of a NW flow, which should keep temperatures cool and precipitation steady through the week. Tuesday looks like around 5 cm, but expect another 20 cm by Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures will remain cool (-10 to -15), and winds will be light to moderate through this period.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.