Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Forecasts are for use by experienced backcountry travelers in uncontrolled sidecountry and backcountry terrain. These forecasts and conditions do not apply to open, in-bounds terrain at ski resorts, which is subject to avalanche control by local resort ski patrol.
Avalanche Rating
Moderate (2)
Warming continues and flurries begin on Thursday afternoon, but the real change comes over the weekend with 10-30 cm of snow along with warming and wind; +5 in Banff by Saturday. Avalanche danger will begin rising later this week.
More Detail
To get the complete forecast with additional graphics and details, please view the Parks Canada Zone forecast provided by Parks Canada.
Snowpack Discussion
Aging wind slabs sit on top of the Jan 30 interface. Specific areas exposed to the wind may also have strastrugi. The mid-pack is generally weak facets, while depth hoar over a crust forms an even weaker base. The snowpack is the weakest in eastern areas where snow depths are low. In these areas, the basal weaknesses should be carefully considered.
Avalanche Activity
A fresh report just in of a fatal avalanche that occurred south of Golden on Monday. A small windslab on a north aspect at 2300 m carried one person a long way (1000 m) down a steep, confined gully with many terrain obstacles.
No new avalanches were reported or observed in the Banff, Yoho & Kootenay region, but Lake Louise forecasters report many people skiing aggressive lines.