Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Up to 70 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds continue to form wind slabs reactive to human triggers.
Avalanche forecast
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Dec 21 – 22, 2025Avalanche Canada
Archived · expired 9 months ago
Avalanche danger
Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
Avalanche problems
Confidence
Moderate
- Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, numerous natural and explosive triggered wind slabs up to size 2 were reported on primarily north and easterly aspects at treeline and above.
Snowpack Summary
50 to 70 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds have formed slabs overlying a 3 to 15 cm thick crust.
Below the crust, the snowpack is generally well settled and moist to the ground in most areas.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.