Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2026–Apr 12th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Another spring day Sunday ahead of a shift to unsettled weather.

As always in spring, start the day early and finish early.

Keep an eye above - fragile cornices are primed to trigger slabs below.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.
We are uncertain if precipitation will fall as rain or snow.
We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

The warmer temperatures and higher freezing levels are continuing to produce small wet loose avalanches.

Cornices are ripe and fragile. Field teams along the Icefields and the Maligne range have noted cornice failures of which some are triggering slabs on the slopes below.

A size 3 persistent slab was observed this Friday on Sunwapta peak, occurring in the alpine and treeline on a West aspect.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow is present at all elevations on solar aspects. Dry or wind-affected surfaces persist on high north-facing alpine terrain. Sun crusts exist on solar aspects, with multiple melt-freeze crusts below ~2300 m.

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

Some forecasts show up to 8cm of snow overnight on Saturday.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature: High 1 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.

Freezing level: 2300 metres.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -3 °C, High 1 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 25 km/h.

Freezing level: 2400 metres.

Tuesday

Flurries up to 9 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -2 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h.

Freezing level: 2000 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Start your day early and be out of avalanche terrain during the heat of the day.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.