Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 25th, 2025–Dec 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎄
The snow just keeps coming! 15 cm's of new snow fell at the Icefields on Wednesday night and more is expected on boxing day.

There have been many large natural avalanches this week. Stick to conservative, low consequence terrain.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Weather station maintenance flight on December 23rd showed a widespread avalanche cycle across the bulletin region at all elevations. Many prone slopes appeared to cycle early in the storm and have since reloaded.

Road patrol on December 25th saw several size 3 avalanches, most notably one being on Hilda Ridge.

Snowpack Summary

Another 15cm of snow fell on Wednesday evening. Over 100 cm of snow fell in the past week, with strong winds redistributing snow and loading lee slopes. The upper snowpack has ~70 cm over a weak facet layer from December 7. A deeper November 10 weak layer remains about 30 cm above or close to the ground. Snow depth is 140-200 cm in the Icefields and ~100 cm at Bald Hills, where the snowpack is weaker and more faceted.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C.

Light ridge wind.

Friday:

Accumulation: 8 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -8 °C.

Ridge wind southeast: 10 km/h.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -19 °C, High -13 °C.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.