Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2026–Apr 18th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Spring is creeping up from the valley bottom into treeline and below treeline elevations, but winter conditions still exist in the alpine.

Solar input through the day will increase avalanche hazard, so plan to start and finish ski days early.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 slab avalanche was observed below the Athabasca Silverhorn on Wednesday morning, and another size 2 persistent slab avalanche on the endless chain was observed on Thursday morning. The age is uncertain for both of these avalanches but likely occurred approximately 48 hours prior to observation. There was no icefields road patrol on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Fifteen centimeters of recent storm snow are sitting on preserved dry snow in the high North and is moist and settling on a variety of melt forms on solar slopes and at lower elevations. Below 2300m, multiple melt-freeze crusts are layered in the snowpack.

The January 24th layer is buried 80–120 cm deep and remains a lingering concern in the alpine. The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated in deeper areas, while shallow areas remain weaker and more faceted.

Weather Summary

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -2 °C.

Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.

Freezing level: 2100 metres.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High 2 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 2500 metres.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated showers.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low 1 °C, High 6 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level: 2900 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.
Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.