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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 23rd, 2025–Dec 24th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Strong winds and up to 20cm of snow on Wednesday may push the alpine danger to HIGH.

Stick to conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard as the snowpack adjusts to all the recent snow

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise ski patrol noted several small soft slabs in steep alpine terrain. These were from a surprise ~ 20 cm overnight and were generally small and predictably triggered.

Sunshine had similar small windslabs and reactive cornices with their control.

However, avalanche control at ski hills and along the 93N on Monday triggered several large avalanches including one that crossed the road at Mt. Hector.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of snow over the last 48 hours brings the total snow depth over the December 15 melt-freeze crust (below ~2000m) up to 35-60cm. Moderate to strong S-W winds continue to develop slabs in the alpine and at treeline.

The mid-November facet/crust layers are down 80-140 cm and remain active this week with numerous large natural and explosive controlled avalanches.

Treeline snow depths are between 100-180 cm.

Weather Summary

We are in a SW flow pattern with intermittent cold fronts sweeping through bringing flurries and winds.

Wednesday will be stormy, with 5-20 cm of snow and strong south winds.

Thursday should be drier with snow starting in the evening bringing another 5-15cm by Saturday with moderate to strong SW winds.

Link to updated weather forecast tables from Environment Canada

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 careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

Problems

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.

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.