Banff Sunshine Village in Alberta is warning visitors about high avalanche risks following heavy snowfall and extreme winds in the period leading up to March 2, 2026. The alert comes as a direct safety measure for everyone on the slopes or using the nearby backcountry areas.
The resort reported receiving more than 25 centimetres of new snow in a 48-hour period ending on March 2, 2026. These conditions were made more dangerous by sustained strong to extreme winds coming from the southwest, which have created a reactive slab over unstable layers in the snowpack.
According to Banff Sunshine Village, the new snow has formed a heavy slab over a weaker layer that dates back to late January. This underlying layer contains a melt-freeze crust and fragile snow crystals, such as surface hoar and facets, which make it much easier for a large slide to be triggered.
While the resort remains open and its ski patrol is managing the safety of marked runs, management is explicitly advising against travel in the surrounding backcountry terrain. Visitors are urged to check the latest forecasts from Avalanche Canada and use extreme caution while in the area.
