Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Dec 20 – 21, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Consider the hazard to be increasing if you see wind moving snow into lee features.

Areas where the surface or near surface snow has been affected by the wind are most likely to avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Variable wind direction has made the potential for wind slabs to be on any aspect.

    Immediate lee features are of greatest concern.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to limitations in the field data.

Avalanche Summary

  • On Thursday night reports of large (size 2) natural wind slab avalanches, at treeline elevation. Associated with a short increase in windspeed.

  • On Wednesday explosive avalanche control produced small (up to size 1.5) wind slab avalanches at treeline.

  • On Monday explosive avalanche control produced large avalanches (up to size 2.5) and also noted sympathetic avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

The upper 20cm of the snow pack have wind affect in exposed areas.

In sheltered areas and at treeline and below, 60 to 120 cm is unconsolidated powder.

In isolated ares a layer of surface hoar can be found around 100cm deep.

The mid and lower snowpack are uncomplicated and relatively deep for the time of year. Snowpack depths in excess of 300+ cm can be found at treeline elevations.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 cm of snow. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 2 cm of snow. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Regions covered