Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2025–Dec 19th, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Along the icefields parkway has seen large amounts of recent snow that has been redistributed by strong winds. Carefully evaluate all terrain for wind slab and overhead hazard.

Highway 93 will remain closed with further avalanche control planned for December 19th. Check 511 for updates.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control from December 16th produced numerous size 1.5 to 2.5 wind slab and persistent slab avalanches. Natural avalanches up to size 4 have been reported along the closed section of highway 93N in the last 28 hours. Natural activity is expected to continue with snow and wind forecasted to continue.

Snowpack Summary

Continuous snow since Sunday has accumulated to up to 100cm in the Parker's area. Strong to extreme winds have significantly loaded lee features. The height of snow is up to 140-180 cm in wind protected areas for this zone. Snow depth is up to 100 cm in the Maligne area. Weaker facet layers are now buried deep within the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace.Alpine temperature: High -11 °C. Ridge wind west: 25 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.

Saturday

Snow accumulating to 9 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -15 °C, High -11 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.

Sunday

Snow accumulating to 11 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -8 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.

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.

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.