Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2026–Mar 21st, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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 has fallen in the icefields area as a mixture of snow and rain. At higher elevations this will add a large volume of snow as a storm slab and on top of existing weak layers. Carefully asses all terrain and be mindful of exposure to overhead slopes.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday 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

In the last five days 91mm of precipitation has fallen as a mixture of rain and snow along the Icefields Parkway, and 20-25mm in the Maligne area. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 50-150 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

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -8 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15-35 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -10 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -9 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15-35 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.

Problems

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.