Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2026–Mar 4th, 2026

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

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

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

Forecasters remain uncertain that the Feb 27 storm load has fully settled and stabilized. There is a decrease in natural activity yet it continues in our nearest neighbors. There remains potential to produce large deadly avalanches. Consider the size of slopes and overhead hazard in your decision-making process.

Confidence

Moderate

We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

March 3rd Maligne's explosive control released a couple size 1 persistent slabs. Visibility was poor to note any new naturals. March 2nd saw a significant avalanche on the East face of Whistlers Peak. Our neighbors to the West and South are still reporting natural activity. Natural avalanches up to size 3.5 were observed Feb 27-Mar 1st. A skier triggered size 2 near miss occurred on Feb 28 at Hilda ridge. See the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Feb 26-27th brought upwards of 40 cm of new snow locally at the Icefields area. Since then, it has been redistributed by moderate to strong West winds. This sits atop the January weak layer of facets and surface hoar down 40–60 cm, forming a persistent slab. Below 2000m, a thin melt-freeze crust is developing on the surface with warm daytime temperatures. The mid-pack is well consolidated but basal facets are found in thinner areas.

Weather Summary

Weather conditions for Wednesday are expected to be flurries, 6 cm of new snow, -2 °C, light winds, and 1800 metres freezing level. Thursday and Friday could be clouds, sun, flurries, trace of new snow, light gusting moderate West winds, and -3 to -10 °C.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.

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.

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.