Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 14th, 2025–Dec 15th, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

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.

Sunday to Tuesday will be stormy bringing upwards of 50-70cm of snow, strong winds, and lower elevation rain. Bulk of the precipitation will arrive Monday. Sunday afternoon Highway 93 was closed Jasper to Lake Louise due to treacherous driving conditions and increasing avalanche danger. Avalanche control will occur Tuesday.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Sunday's road patrol observed several loose wet at low elevation locations. Alpine locations were obscured. The incoming storm was ramping up late Sunday afternoon thus expect an increase in natural activity the following days.

Snowpack Summary

Sunday brought 20cm of new snow plus moderate winds loading lee features. This overlies the previous 50 cm of storm snow from Dec 8th that rests on a facet interface. A small crust is located 30cm up from ground. Snowpack ranges from 60 to 120cm at the Icefields. The Bald Hills area average is 60cm.

Weather Summary

Monday will snow heavily bringing potentially 40cm of new snow, 90km/hr winds, and -1 °C. Tuesday to Wednesday could bring another 20cm and moderate to strong winds.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.

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.

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.

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.