Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 13th, 2025–Dec 14th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Another storm with significant precipitation and extreme winds will impact the region Sunday. Heavy loading and strong winds will increase the avalanche hazard.
Avoid overhead exposure, terrain traps such as gullies, and lee slopes.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches observed in the last couple days. However, many bed surfaces have been reloaded with new snow.

December 10th avalanche control at Parker's ridge produced slabs up to size 3 with good propagation at ridge top.

Potential for triggering large destructive slabs remains a concern.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds from the west have scoured much of the alpine and tree line and loaded lee features. Up to 50 cm of snow overlying an early December facet interface. A small crust is located 30cm from the bottom. Snowpack ranges from 60 to 120cm at treeline in the Icefields. The Bald Hills area has received less storm snow; the average height is ~60cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday

Periods of snow. Accumulation: 15 cm. Alpine temperature: High -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 90 km/h. Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Monday

Snow, heavy at times. Accumulation: 35 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -2 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 30 km/h gusting to 85 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Tuesday

Periods of snow. Accumulation: 14 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -6 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

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.