Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2026–Mar 20th, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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 possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Highway 93 is closed with an uncertain opening date.

A large amount of precipitation and high freezing levels are adding load and moisture to the snowpack. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist across all elevations due to a variety of avalanche problems.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain if precipitation will fall as rain or snow.
We are uncertain about alpine conditions due to limited field observations.

Avalanche Summary

A roadway patrol from the Jasper townsite to Parker Ridge observed numerous wet loose up to size 3 at Treeline and Below Treeline elevations. Visibility was generally poor and not much of the alpine terrain was able to be observed.

Snowpack Summary

The last 72 hours has brought 75mm of precipitation along the Icefields Parkway but much less at Maligne area, with rain occurring below 2100m. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 40-100 cm. The midpack is generally well consolidated with facets near the ground. Average snow depths for Icefields is 150-220 cm and Maligne is 60-140 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday:

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 17 cm.

Alpine temperature: High 0 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.

Freezing level: 2200 metres.

Saturday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 16 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -2 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Sunday

Flurries.

Accumulation: 6 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -10 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
Avalanche danger will rapidly increase if snow switches to rain.

Problems

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.