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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2025–Dec 25th, 2025

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.
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.

Snowfall outperforms expectations as wind continues to load lee areas and deeper weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise patrol reported triggering size 1 storm slabs with explosives today. The Parks Canada field team did not observe any avalanches in Kootenay.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of storm snow in the last 72 hours brings the total snow depth over the December 15 melt-freeze crust (below ~2000m) up to 60cm, however it is settling quickly. 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.

Weather Summary

Partly clear conditions are expected on Christmas Day. Strong southwesterly winds will persist, transporting snow into lee terrain. Valley temperatures will warm to near 0 °C, while alpine temperatures remain colder near −10 °C.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

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.