Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 5th, 2026–Apr 6th, 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.

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.

Warming over the next few days will increase overhead hazards. Expect rockfall and cornice fall capable of triggering deep persistent weak layers.
Moist surface snow at and below tree line may produce loose wet avalanches—use extra caution in terrain traps.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

We are still seeing sporadic large natural persistent slab avalanches. Loose wet natural avalanche cycle up to size 2 at tree line and below is ongoing with higher freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

Dry snow can still be found in shady aspects above tree line. 20-40 cm below, a firm rain crust from late March is supportive at low elevations but gradually disappears above tree line, around 2300 m. A deeper persistent weak layer from late January exists in the alpine down 80–120 cm. The lower snowpack is generally strong although weak basal facets can still be found in shallow areas.

Weather Summary

Monday
Cloudy with scattered wet flurries. Accumulation: 5 cm. Alpine temperature: High 2 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level: 2400 metres.

Tuesday

Flurries. Accumulation: 7 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High 2 °C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h. Freezing level: 2300 metres.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -4 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.