Residents and travellers in Banff, Alberta, should prepare for an abrupt return to winter as a storm is expected to bring heavy snow and freezing temperatures starting February 16, 2026. This weather system will likely cause travel delays and hazardous conditions on mountain roads throughout the week.
According to Environment Canada, the region could see between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow by Wednesday. Some local areas may see as much as 30 centimetres of total accumulation as the snow continues through Tuesday.
Strong winds are expected to create blowing snow on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, which will make it hard to see on major routes like Highway 1. Parks Canada may need to close the Icefields Parkway to perform avalanche control work, which helps prevent snow slides from reaching the road.
Local bus travel could also be affected by the winter weather. Roam Transit may need to pause service on Route 2 because of the steep roads on Tunnel Mountain.
After the snow passes, the community will face extreme cold. Temperatures are forecast to drop significantly, with overnight lows reaching -28°C on February 19 and February 20, 2026.
