Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2025–Dec 13th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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 and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are essential.
Skiers: Stick to low angle, sheltered slopes while the snowpack is going through significant loading.
Climbers: Avoid all overhead hazard, this is not the time to push exposure.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

There have been numerous natural windslabs observed throughout the park up to size 2.5 over the past few days. Many bed surfaces have been reloaded with new snow. 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

Up to 50 cm of snow fell since this past weekend. Strong winds from the west and north west have scoured much of the alpine and tree line and loaded lee features. The mid and lower pack consists primarily of facets. 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

Saturday

Cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 5 cm. Alpine temperature: High -4 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 25-40 km/h. Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Sunday

Snow, heavy at times. Accumulation: 28 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C, High -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 75 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Monday

Snow, heavy at times. Accumulation: 44 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -5 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 90 km/h. Freezing level: 2000 metres.

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.

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.