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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2025–Dec 10th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Another rise in avalanche danger Weds/Thurs will depend on the storm’s timing and snowfall totals. With the new load arriving soon after the last event, conditions will tip easily. The pump is primed.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Lots of action on Tuesday. Lake Louise reported 28 explosive controlled avalanches today, including five size 2s up to 70 m wide and 50 cm deep. They suspect the deeper slabs were failing on the mid-November crust. Sunshine noted numerous ski cut size 1s along with a few explosive controlled wind slabs to size 1.5. Parks Canada also triggered a size 3 on Mt. Bosworth with Gaz-Ex, producing a 100 cm crown that dusted the highway.

Snowpack Summary

30-60 cm of recent storm snow has formed storm slabs and been blown into wind slabs at treeline and above. These slabs sit on a variety of buried crusts in the snowpack, however few avalanches have been noted on these layers so far. Below treeline snow remains generally soft with a supportive mid-pack.

Weather Summary

Model guidance suggests another delivery of substantial precip arriving Wed into Thu. The West side of the forecast area could see up to 40, while the East is closer to 20. The load will be accompanied by strong and sustained W/SW wind. Temps trend warmer, with the valley hovering near 0 and ridge elevations around –6.

The sharpness of the combined weather inputs will send the avalanche danger up very quickly.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.