Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2026–Mar 25th, 2026

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Check 511 for Icefields Parkway updates. The snowpack needs time to settle, and lingering reactivity plus 15–20 cm by Wednesday morning will keep the hazard elevated.

Careful route choices, solid group management, and healthy skepticism in steep terrain will support safe travel this week.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

The road was opened on March 24th from Jasper to Parkers Ridge. Further avalanche control is scheduled on the Parkway for Wednesday.

A widespread natural avalanche cycle produced numerous, massive avalanches following the storm that occurred from March 15 to 21.

Snowpack Summary

The Icefield's alpine has received 50-100 cm of new snow, with a further 10-15cm expected by Wednesday morning. Maligne has received 20-30 cm. A temperature and rain crust has formed below treeline and exists up to 2100 m. A persistent weak layer of old surface hoar and facets is buried 50-150 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 60-140 cm.

Weather Summary

Overnight: Flurries. 8 cm. Temperature: Low -8 °C. Wind southwest: 30 km/h gusting to 80 km/h.

Wednesday: Flurries. 7 cm. Temperature: High -8 °C. Wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 75 km/h.

Thursday: Flurries. 6 cm. Temperature: Low -14 °C, High -11 °C. Wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Trace. Temperature: Low -14 °C, High -7 °C. Light wind, gusting to 45 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.
If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.