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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2026–Feb 28th, 2026

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

Regions

Little Yoho, Kootenay, Lake Louise, Sunshine, Field.

Up to 40cm and extreme winds have caused an avalanche cycle, with wind slabs up high, and overloading the Jan 24 layer at treeline and below. We expect touchy conditions for the next while.

Mounts Whymper, Simpson, and Wardle in Kootenay will be closed all day Saturday for avalanche control. Click the blue banner above for area maps.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine ski area was getting size 1 - 2 wind slabs with ski cuts and control, including a size in the wild west on the Jan 24th surface hoar. Poor visibility on a road patrol to Field, but lots of sluffing was observed, and we suspect a natural cycle is ongoing.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40 cm of new snow and extreme winds have formed deep, reactive windslabs in all areas. These overlie the Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust/facet) down 30-50+ cm at treeline. This layer has been very touchy in Kootenay and Yoho, and with this new load, we believe it may now wake up in areas south of Lake Louise. We expect touchy conditions for the next while.

Weather Summary

The storm ends Friday night with a few cm expected and diminishing winds.

Saturday: Sunny with moderate W winds and no snow, Treeline temperatures staying at -7C.

Sunday: Sunny with moderate W winds, no snow and freezing levels to 1900m.

Monday: Mainly cloudy with strong W winds and no snow. Freezing levels rising to 2100m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

Problems

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.

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.