Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2025–Feb 27th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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 possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Our complex snowpack is undergoing significant changes, with considerable uncertainty regarding the size, reactivity, and spatial distribution of both newly buried and older weak layers. Approach avalanche terrain with caution and apply all available safe travel techniques.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

An unreported skier triggered small slab avalanche observed today in the Icefields Parkway corridor. Local natural avalanche activity has gradually decreased, though field teams are still finding signs of large avalanche cycle throughout the bulletin region. Serious avalanche conditions persist even if the evidence is not always visible.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of well-settled storm snow from last weekend overlays faceted layers formed during the February drought. These facets sit on top of old wind slabs, crusts, or more developed facets and depth hoar. Wind effect in exposed tree line and alpine elevations. Below 1500m, warm temperatures and rain have soaked the weak snowpack.

Weather Summary

Thursday:Freezing level rising to 1900 m. Snow beginning in the morning. Lower snowfall amounts at lower elevations with rain showers at valley bottom. Ridgetop winds gusting to 65 km/h at night.Friday:Freezing level rising to 2200 m. Chance of flurries or rain showers in the afternoon.Weekend: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate southwest winds at ridgetop. Highs near -1 at treeline. Freezing levels near 2000 m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger 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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.