Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2026–Mar 27th, 2026

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Human triggering of large persistent slab avalanches remains likely and could result in significant consequences.
The Moderate rating below treeline reflects the overhead exposure to persistent slab avalanches with the potential to run a long distance from treeline and alpine elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on March 25 produced mostly no results, with only a few small storm slabs triggered by large explosives at treeline and below. Field teams observed a limited number of natural persistent slab avalanches that occurred post-storm at treeline on east to south aspects, running large and wide. Avalanche control on March 21 produced persistent slab avalanches up to size 4, coinciding with a widespread very large natural avalanche cycle.

Snowpack Summary

The Icefield's alpine has received 70- 120 cm of new snow since March 15th. Maligne has received 30-50 cm. A late March temperature and rain crust has formed below treeline and exists up to 2100 m. A persistent weak layer of facets and temperature crust is buried 70-170 cm. The midpack is generally well consolidated with facets near the ground. Average snow depths for the Icefields are 150-220 cm, and Maligne is 80-140 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -6 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10-25 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.
Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.