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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 25th, 2025–Dec 26th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Expect fresh windlabs in the alpine and down into tree-line. Forecasters are uncertain what the massive December snow load is doing on the deeper persistent layers. Conservative terrain choices at treeline and above are still required as we allow the snowpack to settle and adjust to this load.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

Fresh windslabs up to size 1.5 have been reported and skicut in alpine and tree line terrain.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm storm snow in the last two days and moderate southerly winds have created fresh windslabs in alpine and open treeline terrain. Snowpack continues to settle. There is 30-60 cm settled over top of the Dec 15 melt freeze crust (which is present to ~1800 - 2000m) and the Nov facet/crust interface is down 80-140 cm. Treeline snow depths around 100-200 plus cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday night and Friday will bring light flurries with total accumulation by end of day on Friday between 10-15 cm. Winds will be SW in the Moderate range.

On Saturday the flow will shift to NW as an upper ridge builds over the area. Skies will clear, and temperatures will plummet.

Link to 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.