Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2026–Apr 13th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Regions

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

The alpine may start the day at lower hazard, but conditions will likely deteriorate with daytime warming. Even intermittent sun can pack a punch when it breaks through.

As we transition into spring low down, take a moment to read about spring conditions ratings.

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

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

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

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

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

Snowpack Summary

Daytime 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

Sunday evening will see clear skies and freezing levels drop to 1700m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: High 0 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. Freezing level: 2200 metres.

Tuesday

Flurries up to 12cm. Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -2 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Wednesday

Flurries up to 6 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -5 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

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.