Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2026–Feb 8th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Continued warm temperatures with clear, sunny skies will create a wet loose problem particularly on solar slopes.

There is some uncertainty around whether continued warm temperatures will reactivate the deep persistent layer.

Confidence

Low

We are uncertain about how deep persistent slabs will react to the forecast weather.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet loose avalanches have been observed along the Icefields parkway up to size 2 on February 4 and 5th. Most were below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

There is moist snow to mountaintop on solar aspects and to around treeline on polar aspects. A weak layer of surface hoar and facets is down ~10cm, which is most problematic in areas with wind loading.

In open areas, recent winds have redistributed the new snow into windslabs. The midpack is still supportive, but a weaker, faceted layer lingers above the ground, creating a deep, persistent slab.

Weather Summary

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Ridge wind southwest: 15-25 km/h.

Freezing level: 2500 metres.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Ridge wind southwest: 25-40 km/h.

Freezing level: 2100 metres.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

Problems

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.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.