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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2025–Dec 5th, 2025

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

Regions

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

The week of wind continues, with sustained moderate west winds transporting snow, but windslab development has been limited. Expect to find small (size 1) windslabs formed on gully walls and steep leeward slopes, and these are likely to be triggered easily. But overall, the wind seems to be resetting the riding conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Both ski areas (SSV and LL) report only small windslab development over the past 24 hours as they continue to work the steep alpine gullies within their resort boundaries. Several size 1's released by ski cuts, and one size 1.5 with explosives at Lake Louise. No significant natural avalanches reported, but visibility has been limited.

Snowpack Summary

The winds continue to affect the snow surface, although without much recent new snow to be transported, windslab development has been limited. Small windloaded features in gullies have been triggered, but nothing widespread. At treeline and below, the snow quality remains generally soft, despite the wind, with a relatively strong mid-pack and no significant weak layers. A rain crust exists in the middle of the snowpack, but so far is not reactive.

Weather Summary

The strong northwesterly flow is expected to continue for the remainder of the week and into the coming weekend. This means a blustery few days with continued moderate west winds (30-40 km/hr), light amounts of snow (2-5 cm/day) and temperatures steady in the -5 to -10 range. In the longer term, more significant precipitation appears to be on the horizon for Monday and Tuesday of next week. Fingers crossed.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.