Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 23 – 24, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Reduce your exposure to avalanche terrain and overhead hazard.

Fresh wind slabs are expected to form, and buried weak layers are a concern with recent large avalanches triggered naturally.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation. Watch for active wind transport, and back off slopes with hollow, drum-like sounding snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    Deeper weak layers are most likely to be triggered at higher elevations, on wind loaded slopes.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.
  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Large, naturally triggered persistent slab avalanches have been observed recently on north facing slopes. These failed on buried weak layers 1-2 m deep, and some have stepped down to ground. See photos below.

Observations are limited in this region - If you are travelling in the mountains, please submit any observations or photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Light accumulationsof new snow are expected by Tuesday morning. This falls over 50-80 cm of wind affected settling snow, with a thick crust below.

A prominent crust is buried 100–150 cm deep in terrain above 1800 m. At lower elevations, the mid and lower snowpack is moist to the ground.

Weather Summary

Monday Night
Cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.


Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

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