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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2025–Dec 13th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Purcells, South Rockies, Dogtooth, East Purcell, Bull, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Storm snow continues to accumulate, and the likelihood of human-triggered avalanches remains elevated, particularly in wind-loaded terrain and steep slopes near treeline.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural, explosive, and rider-triggered avalanches have been reported since Tuesday, ranging in size from 1 to 2.5 on all aspects and elevations.

Several of these avalanches occurred below treeline, sliding on buried surface hoar, and releasing in surprisingly low-angle terrain.

A few explosive-controlled avalanches have failed on the mid-November crust, all size 2 or smaller.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 40 to 70 cm of recent storm snow now overlies potential weak layers of faceted snow at higher elevations and surface hoar at lower elevations.

A mid-November melt-freeze crust is buried 50 to 100 cm below the surface at lower-alpine elevations (around 2400 m) and below, but this crust appears to be absent in higher-alpine terrain.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 90 to 140 cm and decrease rapidly at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.



More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.