Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 28th, 2025–Dec 29th, 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

East Purcell, St. Mary.

Enjoy the blue skies and powder! Keep in mind wind slabs may remain triggerable at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to limitations in the field data.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday:

  • Several size 1.5 to 2 naturally triggered wind slabs were observed in the alpine near Panorama on wind-loaded north through easterly aspects. (See photos)

  • Two size 1 cornices were triggered with explosives near Panorama.

On Thursday:

  • A naturally triggered size 2 wind slab was observed in steep alpine terrain off of Jackpine Mountain near Panorama

* If you are travelling in the mountains, please submit any observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow and moderate shifting winds formed wind slabs on various aspects at upper elevations. These wind slabs will likely be getting stubborn, but may remain triggerable.

A weak layer from mid-November, made up of a thick crust with overlying facets, and in some cases surface hoar, remains a lingering concern in very isolated areas above 2100 m, and generally in shallower snowpack spots. In eastern parts of the region, it is buried around 100 cm deep, and up to 180 cm in western areas with a deeper snowpack.

Depth hoar is present at the base of the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Clear skies. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Monday
Sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Tuesday
Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Wednesday
Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.


More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations.

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.