Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 20th, 2025–Nov 21st, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Early Season

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Early Season

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Early Season

Regions

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

A storm will start Friday and continue through the weekend. Incoming new snow and winds will create fresh wind slabs and dry loose avalanches in steep exposed terrain.

The snowpack is building around the Icefields but early season conditions still persist across most of the region.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

A few size 1 human triggered wind slab avalanches were reported on Thursday 20th in steep alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is highly variable across the region. The Icefields area has 50-80 cm at tree line and the Maligne area has 10-15 cm. Since the Nov 13 storm, moderate SW winds have transported snow in open areas, and Nov 18 brought up to 5 mm, falling as rain at tree line and below. There is not yet much information available about the early season snowpack structure, so be sure to dig down and investigate if you're heading out, and post your observations to the MIN!

Weather Summary

Friday

Sunny with cloudy periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature High of -4 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h. Freezing level at 1500 metres.

Saturday

Flurries up to 8 cm. Alpine temperature Low -4 °C, High -4 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Sunday

Periods of snow up to 19 cm.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Small avalanches may cause climbers to fall or bury belayers and gear.
Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for slabs before you commit to it.

Problems

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.