Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Dec 20 – 21, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

Continued flurries and steady winds will keep the avalanche hazard elevated.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    A crust/facet layer formed in mid-November exists deep in the snowpack. This layer may remain reactive at higher elevations, where an overlying, supportive crust is absent or weaker compared to lower elevations.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Recent snow and wind have created reactive slabs on the surface, particularly at higher elevations. Strong winds will build deeper and more reactive deposits in lee features.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
  • Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region since Monday.

In the adjacent Sea to Sky, ski cut and explosives-controlled slab and loose dry results to size 1.5 have occurred on the most recently buried crust.

On Monday, several large (size 2.5 to 3) natural avalanches occurred along the Duffey corridor. These all failed on the mid-November crust and facet layer.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 30 to 50 cm of recent storm snow has accumulated, accompanied by strong alpine winds.

This new snow has buried a thin melt-freeze crust in most areas, with wet, dense snow sitting below.

A deeper crust with associated facets, formed in mid-November, exists 50 to 150 cm below the surface and has been responsible for recent large avalanche activity.

Weather Summary

Friday night
Cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday
Cloudy. 10 to 30 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Regions covered