Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2026–Jan 22nd, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Be extra vigilant with the deep persistent slab problem. It is one of the most difficult problems to assess, predict, and manage due to the high degree of uncertainty involved. Give yourself a wide margin for error plus safely manage your team and terrain. Be cautious in thin or variable snow spots.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Field team in Rampart area on Tuesday reported a few solar triggered size 1.5. Also, outside Lake Louise ski area on the Vortex run (Pipestone area) a skier triggered a size 2.5, took a 200m ride, buried up to waist, uninjured but lost equipment. It was a 40 degree slope, W-NW aspect, 2500m, 40-80cm deep crown, 60m wide, and 200m long releasing near the ground. It was triggered in a cross loaded shallow spot feature. Sunday's field team in the Nigel area reported no new naturals.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar continues to form and found up to 2700m and likely higher. Otherwise, surfaces are firm and wind impacted. Soft snow remains in sheltered areas. Solar slopes host variable crusts, especially on steeper aspects. The snowpack is generally deeper in the Icefields and shallower at Maligne lake.

Weather Summary

Thursday to Saturday will be mostly sun, cloudy periods, temperatures ranging from -8 to -20 °C, and generally light North winds with some moderate gusts. Sunday might warm up to -4 °C and 1600m freezing level.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.

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.