Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2026–Mar 4th, 2026

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

Regions

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

We are suspicious of a layer of facets down 40-60 cm that is reactive at treeline and above. We have seen several avalanches fail on this layer over the past week.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine Village reported an out-of-bounds size 2 skier accidental at treeline on a west aspect at 2150 m, where a skier triggered a glade 30 m wide that was 70-100cm deep on facets.

Our field team did a road patrol up Hwy 93 N on Monday and reported the following avalanche observations.

Snowpack Summary

A complex snowpack is emerging in the wake of the recent storm. A common theme is a 40–60 cm slab that is bonding poorly to a layer of facets or a facet/crust combination formed on Jan. 24.

The distribution of this layer (its location) is difficult to pin down, and for now we are concerned about all steep terrain at treeline and above, especially on SE through W aspects, until we learn more about this situation.

Weather Summary

A westerly system will move into the region Tuesday night through Wednesday. As this moist air mass approaches, winds will begin to taper, with ridge-top speeds near 30 km/h from the west.

Forecast precipitation amounts range from 5 to 15 cm by Wednesday evening. Freezing levels will rise to around 2,000 meters on Wednesday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

Problems

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.

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.