A powerful chinook wind sweeping through the Alberta foothills in mid-December has dramatically reshaped the winter landscape west of Calgary, stripping away snow and revealing an unexpected splash of colour. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the warm wind left meadows bare and creeks flowing remarkably ice-free, offering a rare glimpse of late-fall hues persisting into the winter season.
A Landscape Transformed by Warm Wind
The effects were striking along Jumpingpound Creek. The large meadow where Sibbald Creek converges was reduced to almost entirely bare grass. South-facing slopes shone tawny brown, while even the typically snow-clad north-facing slopes under the trees showed significant patches of exposed ground. The chinook had consumed vast amounts of snow, fundamentally altering the scene.
Near the Dawson trailhead bridge, the creek itself presented a fascinating sight. Contrary to expectations for mid-December, the water flowed mostly freely, covered only by a thin, papery layer of ice. Peering down, one could watch air bubbles trapped by the current as they danced and bounced beneath the fragile icy coating. Further downstream, where the water slowed, the story changed. Thicker, layered ice had formed, with fallen leaves frozen in place marking successive cycles of freezing, damming, and breaking free.
Forest Floor Reveals a Mosaic of Colour
Within the forest, pockets of snow remained, but the chinook's work was evident. Puddles of melted snow had refrozen, capturing collections of leaves, loose spruce needles, and lichens in suspended animation. Where the tree canopy was thickest, little snow had accumulated in the first place, the closely packed trunks acting as a natural shield.
This exposed ground became a canvas for surprising colour. Patches of purplish-red bunchberry leaves contrasted with the still-green leaves of wild strawberries. Mosses cast a soft yellow-green glow across the forest floor. A single, resilient leaf—likely from a wild geranium—displayed a striking mix of green, yellow, and brown, a colour scheme defiantly ready for any season.
A Sudden Change: The Toppled Spruce
As the path bent around the Dawson day-use area, another consequence of the chinook's force became apparent. A familiar spruce tree that once stood sentinel beside the creek now lay across it, a recent casualty of the powerful winds.
The tree's roots were wrenched from the earth, exposing a large boulder that had lain hidden beneath. The trunk now formed a bridge over Jumpingpound Creek, resting just above the waterline between a gravel bank and a rock outcrop that directs the flow. Its branches were scattered widely; some in the water had created eddies where ice formed, locking them in place. Up close, the sharp, fresh scent of sap lingered where limbs had violently sheared off.
Meanwhile, not far away, O'Shaughnessy Creek near Nakiska also flowed ice-free on the same day, underscoring the widespread impact of the warm wind event. This December chinook served as a potent reminder of the dynamic and transformative power of Alberta's weather, capable of rewriting the winter landscape in a matter of hours and revealing hidden beauty beneath the snow.
