Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2026–Jan 2nd, 2026

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.

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.

Windslabs have formed in the alpine and exposed treeline areas. Seek out soft snow and great skiing and riding conditions in sheltered areas.

Keep the deep persistent weak layer in mind, particularly in areas with a thinner snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to the fact that deep persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Natural windslab avalanches have been observed over the last few days up to size 2. Avalanche control operations within the park and in neighboring areas have continued to see avalanches failing on the Basal weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

Winds have redistributed snow into windslabs in alpine and open treeline areas. The midpack is supportive and sits above 40-60 cm of faceted snow that makes up the lower snowpack. Basal facets and an early season melt freeze crust are located ~30cm off of the ground and remain active as a weak layer in the snowpack.

Average snow depth in the Icefields Parkway area is 140-200cm and in the Maligne area average depth is 100cm.

Weather Summary

Friday

Mainly cloudy.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15-30 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

Flurries.

Accumulation: 10 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -7 °C, High -3 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Sunday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 13 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -4 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 70 km/h.

Freezing level: 1500 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

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.

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.