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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 16th, 2026–Feb 17th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Little Yoho, Kootenay.

Good skiing overall, but we have lingering concerns for pockets of persistent slab in the Kootenay/Yoho areas, where a 20-40 cm slab may overlie the Jan 24 surface hoar and be reactive in steeper terrain. Watch for cracking as you enter steep terrain at treeline and below. Also watch for new small wind slabs in alpine lee areas.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A Parks Canada field team reported whoomphing, cracking and ski-cutting a size one avalanche on the Jan 24th surface hoar down 30-40 cm at 1800 m in the Simpson area of Kootenay Park.

A recent report from Yoho shows a reactive Jan 24 surface hoar layer down 25 cm at below treeline elevations.

No other new avalanches were observed or reported in these areas on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow in sheltered north facing alpine areas that diminishes with elevation. Some new thin windslabs in alpine lee areas. The new snow overlies crusts on solar aspects and wind effect in exposed alpine areas. The Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust) is down 15-30 cm at treeline and below. This layer has been reactive in isolated pockets between 1600 and 1900 m (see avalanche summary). Below this interface, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.

Weather Summary

Monday: Light to moderate SW winds, treeline temperatures between -7 and -10°C. Becoming cloudy with a trace of snow during the day and more overnight. 5-15 cm of new snow expected by Tuesday morning.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.

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.