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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 28th, 2025–Dec 29th, 2025

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.
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.

This is the first significant break from all the recent snow, which is a good problem to have.

However, the new snow will take time to settle. Expect wind slabs in exposed terrain and the potential to trigger deeper persistent slabs, especially in areas with a thinner snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that deep persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

A skier-remote size 2 deep persistent slab was reported in Lake Louise backcountry (see picture below). Sunshine Village heli control mainly produced size 2 wind slabs and one deeper size 2. A field team on Paget Peak observed size 1.5 naturals from steep terrain in the Ogden headwall. On Saturday, heli avalanche control on Hwy 93S produced mixed results to size 2.5, and a goat-triggered size 3 above the ice climb Bourgeau right hand shows deep layers remain triggerable.

Snowpack Summary

No snow on Sunday, but there has been 20-30cm of snow since Dec 26th. Variable winds have created fresh windslabs in alpine and open treeline terrain.

There is 40-80 cm over the Dec 15 melt-freeze crust (which is present to ~1800 - 2000m), 80-160 cm over the November facet/crust interface, and, in thinner snowpack areas, facets at the base.

Treeline snow depths range from 100-200cm plus.

Weather Summary

Monday: no snow, with W alpine winds 30-50kmh. Temperatures will be at -10C to -14C at treeline, with above-freezing temperatures on the eastern slopes at the valley bottom.

Tuesday and Wednesday: Much the same with TL temperatures slowly warming over the period.

Link to the weather forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

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.

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.