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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2026–Mar 8th, 2026

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Minimize overhead hazard and make conservative terrain choices on Sunday.

A warm, wet storm is moving through the region starting tonight. 15-30 cm of snow with strong to extreme W winds will bump the danger rating to HIGH in the alpine & CONSIDERABLE at treeline. This new load may also make the buried persistent layers more reactive.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the timing, track, and intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

Local ski areas were able to ski cut small wind slabs in the immediate lee areas of the alpine and treeline on Saturday.

No natural avalanches observed, but visibility was limited. Moist snow reported below 1900 m.

Snowpack Summary

Scouring, wind effect and some small wind slabs exist in the alpine. The Jan 24 facet/crust layer is down 40-60 cm and producing variable moderate-hard sudden planar results with stability tests. The distribution of this layer is difficult to pin down, but it has been observed at all elevation bands. A thin temperature crust exists on the surface at lower elevations. The lower snowpack is generally strong.

Weather Summary

Sunday: Forecasts snow amounts vary with 10-35 cm of snow by the end of the day, with the larger amounts expected along the divide. Strong winds from the West continue through most of the day. Freezing levels stay near 2000 m Saturday night, and begin lowering through the day on Sunday.

Monday: Freezing levels drop to valley bottom, winds become light, and snow flurries with a mix of sun and cloud are expected.

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.