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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 5th, 2026–Jan 6th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Storm snow is starting to pile up, and may continue to do so quickly, in some areas of the region.

As winds increase Monday evening, be on the lookout for fresh and sensitive windslabs Tuesday.

It remains to be seen how the new load will affect the deep persistent problem but a more conservative approach is advised.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that deep persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Weather conditions have led to poor visibility over the past 2 days, however the ski patrols report working with fresh windlabs:

Sunshine Village reported constant wind transport today with two naturals in N facing alpine terrain and ski cuts producing soft slabs 20-50cm deep up to sz 1.5.

Similarly, Lake Louise found soft ridgetop slabs around 30cm deep reactive to ski cuts to sz 1 and up to sz 1.5 with explosives.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 30 cm of snow has arrived in the past 48 hrs with winds averaging in the moderate range out of the SW forming fresh slabs. This new snow sits over older windslabs, surface hoar to treeline, and some suncrust on steep solar aspects.

There is 40-80 cm over the Dec 15 melt-freeze crust, which is present to 1800-2000 m, and 80-160 cm over the November facet/crust interfaces. In thinner snowpack areas, facets are present at the base.

Treeline snow depths range from 100-200+ cm.

Weather Summary

The current SW flow will give way to a strong NW flow approaching the region.

Temperatures will drop Monday night to remain near -10C at treeline.SW winds will increase into the moderate to strong range before backing off through Tuesday. An additional 10-20cm of snow can be expected Tuesday favouring areas north of the TCH and the divide... more is forecast for Wednesday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep 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.

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.