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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 17th, 2025–Dec 18th, 2025

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

Regions

North Rockies, McBride, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

The ongoing wind continues to build wind slabs, and they are likely to be more reactive where they are forming over a crust. Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazards.

Confidence

Low

  • Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

As we transition into a cooler, stormy period we expect to see wind slab avalanches remain active.

These avalanches will be more reactive where they are forming over the most recent crust.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 20 cm of recent storm snow overlies a melt-freeze crust that extends up to 2000 m.

Ongoing winds are redistributing this unconsolidated snow, building new wind slabs in exposed terrain.

A layer of surface hoar, facets and/or a crust exists around 100 cm deep. This layer appears to be improving but may still be present in high alpine terrain. In thin snowpack areas, faceted grains or depth hoar may exist at the base of the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -23 °C.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep 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.