Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2026–Apr 21st, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Regions

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

Expect elevated avalanche hazard and difficult travel conditions as long as we stay in an All Melt, No Freeze scenario.

The Icefields Parkway will be closed for avalanche control on Tuesday from Parker Ridge to Big Bend. Check for updates on https://511.alberta.ca/

Confidence

High

We are confident the likelihood of avalanches will increase with the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous Loose Wet avalanches up to size 2 were observed along the Icefields Parkway and the Maligne Lake Road on Monday. These were primarily occurring on solar aspects, at below tree line and up to low alpine to elevations.

1 size 3 was also observed in motion on the south aspect of Mount Hooge (near Rampart Creek), and is suspected to be a solar triggered Persistent Slab.

Snowpack Summary

About 15cm of dry snow, which is wind effected in some areas, exists on high North aspects. All other locations have either wet snow or crusts depending on timing. The January 24th persistent weak layer is buried 80–120 cm deep and still a concern in alpine areas. The lower snowpack is well consolidated where deep, and considered weak and faceted where shallow.

Weather Summary

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated showers.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High 4 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 25 km/h.

Freezing level: 2700 metres.

Wednesday

Flurries.

Accumulation: 9 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C, High 1 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.

Freezing level: 2500 metres.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -5 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.

Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

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.

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.