Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Feb 16 – 17, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 months ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

5-20 cm of new snow on Friday night and Saturday has resulted in some good skiing in sheltered locations, but watch for small fresh windslabs in high alpine lee areas.

More snow is expected Monday night!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    10-20 cm of fresh snow with moderate SW-W winds in the past 48 hrs have created small fresh wind-slabs in immediate lee alpine terrain. Watch for these at the top of steep gullies and near ridgecrests.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of new natural cornice failures were reported, but neither of them resulted in a slab failure below. Ski hills were able to ski cut a few small wind slabs in lee alpine areas 10-40 cm deep in the new snow.

The Yoho and Kootenay sub-regions have had a couple of small skier-triggered avalanches on surface hoar in the past week.

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. In isolated areas the Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust) is down 15-30 cm at treeline and below. Beneath 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.

Regions covered