Bulletin d’avalanche

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 17 – 18, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archivé · expiré 7 months ago

Danger d’avalanche

Thu
Fri
Alpin
4 · Fort
Limite forestière
4 · Fort
Sous la limite
4 · Fort
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Points saillants

We expect large avalanches to run to historic runouts over the next several days.

It is a good time to stay out of avalanche terrain

Mt Stephen avalanche closure zone is CLOSED on Wednesday March 18th, 2026

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Very Likely
    Taille
    1–3

    Strong to extreme winds, warming temperatures and ongoing snowfall will continue to form widespread wind slabs at treeline and above.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Very Likely
    Taille
    2–4

    A layer of facets and/or surface hoar is buried 40–100 cm deep. Warming temperatures and added load due to wind, snow and/ or rain will make this layer active over the next few days. We expect large and destructive avalanches running to the end of historical runouts!

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely - Very Likely
    Taille
    1–2.5

    Strong to extreme winds and/ or warming and rain are initiating loose dry and/ or wet avalanches in steep terrain. Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the timing, track, and intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

A significant and widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected to begin Tuesday afternoon and will likely continue through the end of the week.

Snowpack Summary

10- 20 cm of snow or equivalent rain at lower elevations has fallen since March 16th. This, combined with strong to extreme S/SW winds and warm temperatures are loading persistent weak layers comprised of FC and SH which are now down 50-120 cm. We expect this load to overload these layers in the next few days which will trigger a widespread avalanche cycle. Warm temperatures and isothermal snow could result in avalanches running on deeper basal layers as well.

Weather Summary

We are at the start of four days of warm wet weather as a series of atmospheric rivers hits the Rockies. Freezing levels are forecast to be ~ 1900m - 2,300 m with heavy precipitation of 20-40cm of snow or equivalent rain per day. Snow accumulations of 40 to 80+ cm are possible by the end of the week. Winds are forecast to reach extreme levels from the S/SW throughout the storm.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy rain.
  • Very large and destructive avalanches could reach valley bottom.

Régions couvertes