Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2026–Mar 22nd, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

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 possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Check 511 for Highway 93 opening status. Give the staggering amount of new snow time to heal and stabilize. Jasper Avalanche technicians consider any slope that has not naturally released is primed for human triggering. Be extra vigilant for avalanches that may run full path and impact your position at a lower elevation.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control on Saturday triggered numerous size 4's running almost full path. South of Churchill slide path, a natural cycle continues up to size 4.5 with the biggest results in the last 24 hours. On Thursday a roadway patrol from the Jasper townsite to Parker Ridge observed numerous wet loose up to size 3.

Snowpack Summary

Since Monday, 91mm of precipitation has fallen as a mixture of rain and snow along the Icefields Parkway, and 20-25mm in the Maligne area. Alpine may have received 50-100cm of new snow. 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

Sunday will bring clouds, flurries, -10 °C, light West gusting 50 km/hr winds. Monday-Wednesday could be more sun and similar conditions as Sunday except for -17 °C on Wednesday.

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.