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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2026–Jan 18th, 2026

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

Regions

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

Challenging ski conditions. Wind slabs still linger in leeward alpine terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A size 1 wind slab was reported on the Mountain Information Network along the Chickadee–Boom traverse today. Very little action was reported by the ski areas. Otherwise no avalanches were observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

A thin, skiable, temperature crust now caps the snowpack in most locations that was created by above-freezing layers early in the week. This will vary with each valley.

Widespread wind effect is found in the alpine and down into treeline elevations.

In several locations through the region, the January 3rd surface hoar layer is reactive down 30-100 cm.

The November facet/crust interfaces sit 20 - 40 cm up from the ground.

Weather Summary

Slightly cooler temps arrive Sunday, with valley temps near -4°C and ridgetops around -10°C. Models show no clear temperature inversion. Expect a mix of localized cloud and sun with nil precip. Winds will be variable, but could reach the strong range from the NW at 3000 m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • 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.

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.

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.