Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 4 – 5, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 months ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Rising freezing levels with clear, sunny skies will create a wet loose problem anywhere in direct sun or with a lingering snowpack overhead. Small reactive wind slabs found above treeline, in the Icefields.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    New wind slabs are forming from recent snow and SW winds. These will be found in lee features and sit above a weak layer of facets or surface hoar.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Warm temperatures and clear skies are likely to produce a wet loose avalanche cycle on sunny SE to SW aspects

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3.5

    This problem is low probability but high consequence as it would be releasing near the ground thus with a lot of destructive volume. Be extra cautious where snowpack goes from thick to thin areas.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to rapidly changing freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported in the region. Explosives work in the alpine at Medicine Lake produced no significant results.

Snowpack Summary

High freezing levels throughout the region support the development of a new surface crust, especially below treeline (up to 2200m). A weak layer of surface hoar and facets is down ~10cm, which is most problematic in areas with wind loading.

In open areas, recent winds have redistributed the new snow into windslabs. The midpack is still supportive, but a weaker, faceted layer lingers above the ground, creating a deep, persistent slab.

Weather Summary

Overnight: Cloudy with clear periods. Low -3 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Wednesday: Sunny with cloudy periods. High 2 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h. Freezing level: 3100 m.

Thursday: Sunny. Low -1 °C, High 1 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h. Freezing level: 3000 m.

Friday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Low -3 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level: 2400 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

Regions covered