Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 11th, 2026–Mar 12th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Regions

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

The Icefields Parkway will be closed for avalanche control on March 12th until 1700 from Parker Ridge to Saskatchewan Crossing. Check for updates on https://511.alberta.ca/
Up to 20 cm of new snow and wind have the potential to overload the persistent weak layer within the snowpack. Stick with conservative terrain choices.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how persistent slabs will react to the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

No ne natural avalanches were reported in the last couple days.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme winds out of the S to N have created widespread wind-effect, scoured fetches, and formed wind slabs. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets from January 24th is down 20-80 cm. There have been a number of natural avalanches that have failed on this layer in the past week. Below, the snowpack is generally well consolidated facets to ground. Icefields snow depths range from 130-200 cm and snow depth in the Maligne area ranges from 60-140 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night
Flurries. Accumulation: 12 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C. Ridge wind northeast: 10-25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -11 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -18 °C, High -14 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -18 °C, High -12 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.