Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 11 – 12, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 months ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Strong winds have formed touchy windslabs in exposed areas in alpine and treeline terrain. Heightened avalanche hazard will continue at all elevations with forecasted warm temperatures, snow and wind

The Icefields Parkway is expected to close Sunday January 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM for avalanche control. Check Alberta 511 for updates

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Strong winds from various directions has created easily triggerable winds slabs across the region, failing lower down in start zones.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Warming temperatures will form a wet loose avalanche problem below treeline in steep terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4

    Be cautious where the snowpack transitions from thick areas to thin areas. Recent avalanches up to size 3 have been observed on this layer. This problem encompasses multiple weak layers of facets, crusts, and basal facets from November and December.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-2 windslabs were observed in the Parker ridge area on NE aspects at ~2100m. A size 3.5 deep persistent slab triggered by a large cornice failure was observed further south on a NE slope at 2400m running to below treeline. Poor visibility on the Icefields Parkway.

Numerous size 1-1.5 loose wet avalanches were observed in the Maligne Valley near Medicine Lake.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds continue to redistributed snow into reactive 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. A weak basal facet layer located ~30cm off of the ground remains 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

Sunday

Flurries. Accumulation: 8 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level: 1500 metres.

Monday

Snow. Accumulation: 21 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -2 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Tuesday

Flurries. Accumulation: 10 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -2 °C, High -1 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 2100 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Regions covered