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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 14th, 2025–Dec 15th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Continuous storms add load, keeping avalanche danger elevated. Avoid avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On a road patrol along Highway 93S, steep chutes on Mt. Wardle were observed to have cycled. Obscured visibility limited observations, and no additional avalanches were noted. Despite this, it is anticipated that an avalanche cycle is underway in response to the storm. Lake Louise triggered 2 healthy size 2.5s in previously unworked terrain. Sunshine triggered up to 10 size 2 persistent slabs running on the the Nov 13 layer.

Snowpack Summary

Strong SW winds and new snow continue to build thick slabs in the alpine. Warm air and rain to 1600 m are soaking last week’s storm snow (30–60 cm). A 60–100 cm slab now sits over the Nov 22 facet layer, which is particularly touchy where it is associated with a sun or temperature crust that persists in some alpine areas. Lower down, the Nov 13 rain crust extends up to roughly 2100–2300 m.

Weather Summary

We continue to get worked over by weather. Warm temperatures and rain will reach up to 1600m, with snow above, where temperatures drop to around -5 °C in the alpine. Expect around 10 cm today and up to 30 cm by Wednesday, with unrelenting strong SW winds through Monday and Tuesday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.