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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 31st, 2026–Feb 1st, 2026

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

Regions

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

Storm slabs over the Jan. 24 surface hoar layer are becoming reactive and are a developing problem.

The deep, persistent layer remains dormant. Thick-to-thin transitions remain an area of uncertainty.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise and Sunshine patrol reported ski cutting a few small size 1 wind-slabs in immediate alpine lee areas, most being 15-20cm thick. Late in the day Saturday Visitor safety responded to an avalanche near Boom Lake. One skier went for a short ride and lost equipment. They had minor injuries and was evacuated by helicopter. More reports from Yoho of similar-sized avalanches. All appear to have been running on surface hoar buried Jan 24.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15cm of storm snow from the last 4 days now cover the Jan 24 layer, which is surface hoar and crust. Expect that same 15cm to be wind effected in the alpine. A deeper surface hoar layer (Jan 3) lies 50–60 cm down, but there have been no recent avalanches. Basal crust and/or facets exist in thin snowpack areas, but overall, this year's deeper snowpack is stronger than usual.

Weather Summary

Cloud increasing overnight into Sunday, followed by up to 5 cm of new snow during the day. Additional snowfall of around 5 cm is expected through Monday, for a total of up to 10 cm, though amounts vary and 10 cm represents the upper end of current forecasts. Continued mild seasonal temperatures, with valley temperatures near 0 and ridge temperatures around −8. Strong SW remain elevated through the period.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.