Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 27th, 2025–Dec 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Excellent ski quality can be found where the wind hasn't blowen. Investigate new stormslabs and windslabs both buried and on the surface before stepping into terrain.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control took place on East end of Rundle and Mt. Buller. Soft slabs upto size 2.5 running far into runout paths.

Mt. Buller Southern path ran to the spray road putting roughly a meter of debris on the roadway.

Some natural activity was also noted in the hero's knob drainage and on Mt. Smuts South face.

Snowpack Summary

20-40cm zone dependant of snow fell overnight on the 26th with light to moderate SW winds.

Buried wind slabs and fresh windslabs from the snow over the past week are widespread in the alpine and on lee and cross-loaded features at treeline. Be sure to dig down an evaluate this potential and always be feeling with your pole and skis for that hollow feeling indicating you are on a supportive windslab. The November crust is now down 130-180cm, and is showing signs of faceting around this crust layer. Recent avalanches in the upper snowpack have stepped down to this interface producing large destructive avalanches.

Weather Summary

Saturday- Was a cold one. Sunny in the afternoon/evening with a slight increase in winds mid day.

Sunday- A mix of sun and cloud with a slight warming trend. A day time high of -10. Winds will be 40km/h out of the west at ridgetop elevations.

https://hpfx.collab.science.gc.ca/~fsg006/productviewer/ab/table/AB_Rockies_Forecast.html

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.

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.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.