Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Dec 30, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 months ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Strong winds continue to redistribute recent snow, building widespread wind slabs on most aspects. Natural avalanche activity has tapered, but cautious route selection is advised as you transition into wind affected snow. Be mindful of overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Wind slabs are pretty much everywhere across the landscape, and are sensitive to human triggering.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3.5

    Avalanches in the upper snowpack may step down to this layer producing large avalanches, especially in the shallower snowpack parts of the region.

Avalanche Summary

A field team in the Commonwealth zone today saw widespread evidence of slab avalanches within the last week, no new avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs are widespread in the Alpine and open areas at treeline. Although natural avalanche activity has tapered, many areas are prime for human-triggering. The recent storm snow is settling at lower elevations, but sheltered areas still have great skiing. The Nov crust layers are buried 120 to 180cm and are beginning to facet. Some recent avalanches have stepped down to the Nov crust, but this has recently been more common in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Wednesday will see a mix of sun and cloud.

A day time high of -1 with winds in the 30km/h range at ridge top.

https://hpfx.collab.science.gc.ca/~fsg006/productviewer/ab/table/AB_Rockies_Forecast.html

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Regions covered