Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2026–Apr 11th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Intense sun and daytime warming will increase the hazard through the day. A poor overnight refreeze at treeline and below may require careful assessment even if starting trips early.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.
We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday field teams observed small wet loose avalanches at treeline and below treeline on solar aspects, as well as recent size one cornice failures that did not trigger slabs in the slopes below.

A size 3 persistent slab was observed on Sunwapta peak, occurring in the alpine and treeline on a West aspect.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow into treeline elevations may see little refreeze Friday night. Up to 10cm of new snow has been redistributed by previous SW winds, and overlies a sun crust on solar aspects. A thicker melt-freeze crust is found down 20–40 cm at tree line and below. The Jan 24 persistent weak layer is 80–120 cm deep, and mainly a lingering concern in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated showers.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High 4 °C.

Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.

Freezing level: 2600 metres.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High 1 °C.

Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.

Freezing level: 2200 metres.

Monday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -1 °C.

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

Freezing level: 2100 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Start your day early and be out of avalanche terrain during the heat of the day.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.