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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2026–Mar 15th, 2026

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

Regions

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

Ski conditions are excellent, but the reactivity of the persistent weak layer is highly variable. Ease into bigger terrain. If this layer is triggered, it could produce a large avalanche.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A field team at Lake Ohara experienced a large settlement at treeline on the 24th layer, 60cm down. No new avalanches were reported today. On Friday, A large natural avalanche (3.5) was reported on a feature called Megladon in the Sunshine backcountry. Sunshine also had an explosive controlled size 2.5 on the same layer in the Wild West. Both went on the persistent layer.

Snowpack Summary

25-50 cm of recent snow has formed variable wind slabs, and it overlies a rain crust on all aspects below 1900m and a sun crust up to 2400m on solar aspects. The Jan 24th persistent layer (Surface hoar and/or facets) is down 40-100cm and is producing moderate-to-hard results in stability tests. Below this is a mainly well-settled snowpack, with depths deeper than most years.

Weather Summary

Sunday: No snow, West winds 20-30, and treeline temperature highs of -10C

Monday: Light amounts of snow, strong SW winds, and freezing levels rising to 2200m. Snow picks up in the evening.

Tuesday: So far, Tuesday's forecast is for strong winds, 20-30cm of snow, and freezing levels up to 2500m. Snow continues for the rest of the week. Stay tuned...

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.