Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 18 – 19, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Up to 70 cm of new snow and west winds have formed fresh storm slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    A crust buried deep in the snowpack has proven reactive to large loads, particularly in steep, exposed terrain.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Up to 70 cm of new snow and strong west winds have formed fresh storm slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

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

Avalanche Summary

We expect a widespread natural avalanche cycle to have occurred on Wednesday in areas that received greater than 30 cm of new snow overnight.

Strong southwest winds on Thursday could trigger natural avalanches on lee aspects.

Snowpack Summary

30-70 cm of new snow and strong west winds have formed slabs overlying a thick crust.

A mid-November crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. Beneath it, the snowpack contains several additional crusts, and in some locations, a weak, sugary facet layer near the ground.

At treeline, snow depths range from roughly 50 to 100 cm, tapering off quickly at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 0-5 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m, dropping to valley bottom.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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