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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 28th, 2025–Dec 29th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies, Bull, Crowsnest North, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Enjoy the sunshine and powder!

Seek out good riding in sheltered terrain with no wind effect

Be mindful that deep instabilities still exist in the snowpack

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported, but observations are extremely limited in the region.

On Dec 21, large, naturally triggered slab avalanches occurred in the North Crowsnest area. These failed on a deep persistent weak layer down 1-2 m, and some stepped down to the ground.

Check out this MIN from our field team.

Snowpack Summary

At upper elevations, strong westerly winds have blown recent snow into wind slabs in leeward areas.

20 to 35 cm of settling storm snow overlies a rain crust from Dec 24th that reached up to treeline elevations in some areas.

A deep persistent weak layer consisting of a prominent crust, with 10 cm of facets on top, is buried 130 to 180 cm deep in terrain above 1800 m. Triggering this layer could have very severe consequences.

Check out this great MIN post from the Crowsnest on recent conditions there.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Clear skies. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Monday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C, inversion forming with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Wednesday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.


More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.

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.