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

Regions

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

Snow on the way! An upslope storm (eastern) starts overnight Monday and will be done by Wednesday morning. Expect 10-20 cm of snow in this region, with the most around Sunshine and Simpson. Temps are heading to the basement: -25 by Wednesday, but light winds are in the forecast, so this could make for some great powder conditions.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

The ski hills reported continued small windslab development, up to size 1.

Snowpack Summary

By Tuesday, 20-30 cm of cold, dry snow will sit at the top of the snowpack and be available for wind loading. Fortunately, winds look light through the storm, but expect sensitive windslabs in leeward terrain on Tuesday. In isolated areas, the Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust) is down 12-35 cm at treeline and below – watch to see if this layer wakes up with the additional snow load. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.

Weather Summary

A significant change in the weather is happening overnight on Monday and Tuesday.

An arctic cold front descends from the NE and collides with moist Pacific air, a combination that can create a lot of snow. Expect 10-20 cm by Wed morning, cooling temperatures down to -23 by Wed morning, and wind switching to NE but looking mostly light. Expect more snow on the east side of the range.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.