Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2026–Mar 18th, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

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

Highway 93 is closed with an uncertain opening day. It's possible another 80cm may arrive by Friday.

Confidence

Low

We are uncertain due to the timing, track, and intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

Technicians on Tuesday closed highway 93 and could not see much terrain through the deluge of rain and snow. Monday's Icefield afternoon road patrol was also stormy, windy, and poor visibility but a couple of size 2 were observed near Parkers ridge. Sunday's patrol near Mount Morden Long, near Sunwapta station, observed nothing notable with excellent visibility yet whumphing occurred up to 1800m. Avalanche control on March 12th produced a few surface wind slabs size 2.

Snowpack Summary

The last 24 hours brought 20cm of warm moist new snow at the Icefields but much less at Maligne. Rain occurred below 2200m. This sits on top of the previous either scoured terrain or leeward wind slabs. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 20-80 cm but overall the snowpack 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

Tuesday night will bring 16cm of snow, -2 °C, and 50 km/h. winds. Wednesday, another 14cm, 0 °C, and 65 km/h winds. It will snow abundantly on Thursday with 39cm, -1 °C and 80 km/h winds. Friday could bring some sun and flurries. Another pulse of 19cm will come on Saturday but cooler temperatures.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
Avalanche danger will rapidly increase if snow switches to rain.

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.

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.