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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2025–Dec 10th, 2025

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Crawford, Kokanee.

As storm slabs build and temperatures rise, natural avalanches are likely.

Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain and overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, storm snow was sluffing and cracking in response to human triggers. A size 1.5 storm slab was triggered on an east facing treeline slope, stepping down to the buried surface hoar. Explosive control produced slabs up to size 2.5.

We expect reactivity to continue as storm snow continues to accumulate, with natural avalanches most likely in areas of heavy loading with snow, wind or rain.

Snowpack Summary

By Wednesday afternoon, 20–40 cm of snow is expected falling on a rain crust. 50–70 cm of dense snow sits below. Higher elevations are likely wind-affected with deep deposits on north and east facing ridgelines. Lower elevation snow will likely be moist from rain or mixed precipitation.

A layer of faceted snow or surface hoar, and a crust from mid November is buried 70-110 cm deep. Additional crusts are present in the lower snowpack, and in some areas, weak, sugary facets exist near the ground.

Snowpack depths range from 90–160 cm and thin rapidly at lower elevations. In many areas, especially below treeline, slopes lack enough snow to cover ground roughness and produce avalanches.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 10 to 25 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. Highest amounts are expected from Kootenay Pass up to Kokanee. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing levels rise from 1300-2000 m over the day.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to buried surface hoar.
  • Be cautious of buried obstacles, especially below treeline.

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.