snowingplaces

Ski resort in Alberta, Canada

Lake Louise

A large ski area in Banff National Park, with 170 named runs across five mountain faces.

Forecast updated , when it was 07:00 in Lake Louise (GMT-6).

Lake Louise snow forecast at 2,637 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Lake Louise at the top lift (2,637 m / 8,700 ft) in the next 7 days, though one weather model shows a little. Expect temperatures from −2 to 11 °C (28 to 52 °F) and the freezing level near 3,650 m (12,000 ft) over the next day.

Temperature now
−1 °C (30 °F)
Freezing level
3,650 m (12,000 ft)
Wind
4 km/h (2 mph), gusts 8 km/h (5 mph)

Lake Louise hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Lake Louise in the next 24 hours.

Lake Louise 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayDry−1 to 11 °C (30 to 52 °F) · freezing level 3,600 m (11,800 ft)No snow
SatDry−2 to 11 °C (28 to 52 °F) · freezing level 3,750 m (12,300 ft)No snow
SunDry0 to 12 °C (32 to 54 °F) · freezing level 3,900 m (12,800 ft)No snow
MonDry0 to 12 °C (32 to 54 °F) · gusts 40 km/h (25 mph) · freezing level 3,750 m (12,300 ft)No snow
TueDry0 to 11 °C (32 to 52 °F) · freezing level 3,350 m (11,000 ft)No snow
WedDry−2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F) · freezing level 3,050 m (10,000 ft)No snow
ThuDry−2 to 9 °C (28 to 48 °F) · freezing level 2,950 m (9,700 ft)No snow

Lake Louise 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepChance of snow−1 to 6 °C (30 to 43 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–15 cm (0–5 in)
Sat 26 SepDry−6 to 1 °C (21 to 34 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepDry−9 to 4 °C (16 to 39 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry−5 to 6 °C (23 to 43 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepDry−5 to 8 °C (23 to 46 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepDry−3 to 10 °C (27 to 50 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctChance of snow−4 to 5 °C (25 to 41 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–3 cm (under 1 in)

How much snow is there in Lake Louise on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Lake Louise?

Province
Alberta
Country
Canada
Village
1,646 m
Top lift
2,637 m
Vertical
991 m
Lifts
13
Season
Early November to Early May
Airports
Calgary (YYC)

About Lake Louise

Lake Louise is one of three ski areas in Banff National Park, alongside Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay. People have skied here since the 1920s, and the first lift was built in 1954.

The resort reports 170 named runs across five mountain faces, with a vertical of 991 m and a longest run of 8 km. It hosts FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races.

The snow

Lake Louise is in Banff National Park, with a base at 1,646 m and lifts to 2,637 m on a mountain that faces the lake and the Continental Divide. The Canadian Rockies are cold and fairly dry: in our record it snows on about 12 days at mid-mountain in December and 10 to 11 from February to April, and January daytime highs average about −9 °C. That cold keeps the snow through a season that runs from early November into May. Snow was on the ground every Christmas Day in the last ten years.

Who it suits

Intermediates who want scenery and long groomers, and experts who want the back bowls when they are open. There is no village at the base; the hamlet of Lake Louise is a few minutes away and Banff about 40. The resort is on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective, and the SkiBig3 pass adds Sunshine Village and Norquay.

Getting there

Calgary airport is about two hours by road on the Trans-Canada Highway.

When does it snow in Lake Louise?

In Lake Louise, snow falls on about 12 days in December in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from September to June.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Lake Louise at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
8 days10 days11 days10 days7 days4 days<1 days<1 days3 days10 days11 days12 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Lake Louise month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Lake Louise, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January88%−17 to −9 °C (1 to 16 °F)
February1011%−18 to −9 °C (0 to 16 °F)
March1111%−13 to −3 °C (9 to 27 °F)
April109%−8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F)
May79%−2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F)
June46%1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F)
July<11%5 to 17 °C (41 to 63 °F)
August<11%5 to 17 °C (41 to 63 °F)
September34%1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F)
October1012%−7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F)
November1114%−13 to −5 °C (9 to 23 °F)
December1213%−17 to −11 °C (1 to 12 °F)

Snow in Lake Louise in June

In June, Lake Louise gets snow on about 4 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 6% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in September

In September, Lake Louise gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 4% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in October

In October, Lake Louise gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in November

In November, Lake Louise gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −13 to −5 °C (9 to 23 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in December

In December, Lake Louise gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −17 to −11 °C (1 to 12 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in January

In January, Lake Louise gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 8% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −17 to −9 °C (1 to 16 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in February

In February, Lake Louise gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −18 to −9 °C (0 to 16 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in March

In March, Lake Louise gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −13 to −3 °C (9 to 27 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in April

In April, Lake Louise gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F).

Snow in Lake Louise in May

In May, Lake Louise gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Lake Louise?

Of the last ten winters in Lake Louise, 2025/26 was the snowiest, about 16% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2022/23, about 30% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 8 October 2019.

Snowfall in Lake Louise for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/17108% of average
2017/18112% of average
2018/19102% of average
2019/20108% of average
2020/21107% of average
2021/22107% of average
2022/2370% of average
2023/2487% of average
2024/2582% of average
2025/26116% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Lake Louise

Does Lake Louise have snow at Christmas?

Lake Louise had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.

Does Lake Louise have snow at New Year?

Lake Louise had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 9 of those years.

Does Lake Louise have snow in mid-February?

Lake Louise had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in 8 of those years.

Does Lake Louise have snow at Easter?

Lake Louise had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 9 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Lake Louise?

It snows on about 85 days a year in Lake Louise at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. December has the most, about 12 days.

What is the snowiest month in Lake Louise?

November is the snowiest month in Lake Louise, bringing about 14% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025. December has the most snowy days, about 12.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Lake Louise?

Of the last ten winters in Lake Louise, 2025/26 was the snowiest, about 16% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2022/23, about 30% below average.

How cold does Lake Louise get in winter?

February is the coldest month in Lake Louise at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −18 °C (0 °F) and highs of −9 °C (16 °F).

How high is Lake Louise?

The village or lowest lift at Lake Louise is at 1,646 m (5,400 ft) and the top lift is at 2,637 m (8,700 ft), a vertical drop of 991 m (3,300 ft).

When does the ski season start in Lake Louise?

The lifts at Lake Louise usually open in early November and close in early May. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Lake Louise

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of Lake LouiseSunshine Village, about 50 km away, no snow this week; Banff, about 50 km away, no snow this week; Kicking Horse, about 60 km away, out of season; Revelstoke Mountain Resort, about 150 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNSunshine Village: No snow this weekBanff: No snow this weekKicking Horse: Out of seasonRevelstoke Mountain Resort: No snow this weekSunshine VillageBanffKicking HorseRevelstoke Mountain ResortLake Louise
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
Sunshine VillageSki resort, about 50 km awayNo snow this weekBanffCity, about 50 km awayNo snow this weekKicking HorseSki resort, about 60 km awayOut of seasonRevelstoke Mountain ResortSki resort, about 150 km awayNo snow this week

Compare Lake Louise for snow

Facts checked 18 September 2026. Sources: Lake Louise mountain stats, Wikipedia, J2Ski: Lake Louise season dates, Skiresort.com, Lake Louise