Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2026–Mar 23rd, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Check 511 for Highway 93 opening status. Give the stunning amount of new snow time to heal and stabilize. Consider any slope that did not release naturally could be at the ready for human triggering. Be extra vigilant for avalanches that may run full path and impact your position at a lower elevation.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

A field patrol to Churchill noted no new naturals in the immediate area. Explosive control on Saturday triggered numerous size 4's running almost full path. South of Churchill slide path, a natural cycle occurred up to size 4.5 with very wide propagations. On Thursday a roadway patrol from the Jasper townsite to Parker Ridge observed numerous wet loose up to size 3.

Snowpack Summary

The Icefield's alpine received 50-100cm of new snow since Monday. 20-30cm at Maligne. In rained below treeline and now its frozen solid. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 50-150 cm. The midpack is generally well consolidated with facets near the ground. Average snow depths for Icefields is 150-220 cm and Maligne is 60-140 cm.

Weather Summary

Expect Monday to be clouds, sunny periods, isolated flurries, -7 °C, and SW 15 gusting 50 km/hr winds. Tuesday may bring 17 cm of snow, -13 °C, and light winds. It could snow another 11cm on Wednesday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.