Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2025–Dec 9th, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

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

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

"WIDESPREAD AVALANCHE CYCLE" expected for Tuesday. Avoid the backcountry. A major storm will begin Monday night along with very strong winds.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avlanche cycle is expected on Tuesday comprising of wind slabs and loose dry avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Expect rapid widespread wind slab development with the incoming storm and very strong winds. Expect a natural avalanche cycle for Tuesday.

Weather Summary

Snow will begin Monday evening bringing in an estimated 15-25cm by Tuesday morning. The kicker here is that 60-100km/hr Westerly winds are forecast during the storm and will taper off some by early afternoon on Tuesday. Temperatures on Tuesday will hover around -7c in the alpine.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

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.

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.