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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 6th, 2025–Dec 7th, 2025

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

The avalanche hazard is slowly increasing with new snow and stronger winds. We expect to be able to trigger small wind slabs on steep, loaded slopes, and have started seeing some larger avalanches due to facetting in the snowpack.

Enjoy the fresh snow, but choose more conservative terrain as conditions change over the next few days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Explosive work on Fri/Sat in steep NE alpine terrain at Lake Louise produced multiple size 2 wind slabs 20-40 cm deep, that propagated up to 75 m, and ran ~300 m, scrubbing to ground in thin facetted areas. A thin mid-pack melt-freeze crust aided the propagation.

Local ski areas were able to trigger multiple size 1-1.5 wind slabs on Saturday, with similar public reports.

On Thursday, a size 3 cornice failure off Crowfoot Mountain went over the glacier and into the moraines.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow on Saturday with light to moderate W/SW winds. Wind slabs are present in lee areas of the alpine and treeline up to 40 cm thick.

At treeline and below, the snow remains generally soft, despite the wind, with a relatively supportive mid-pack, but the entire snowpack has been facetting and weakening.

A few buried sun and melt-freeze crusts are present, and a Nov 13 rain crust exists in the middle of the snowpack below 2100-2300 m that is starting to break down.

Weather Summary

Sunday will bring W/SW winds, increasing from moderate to strong later in the day. Clouds and another 5-8 cm of snowfall are expected, with treeline temperatures ranging from -5°C to -10°C.

More significant precipitation appears to be on the horizon for Monday and Tuesday of next week. Fingers crossed.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.