Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2026–Jan 4th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Fresh snow and wind will create reactive wind slabs in exposed areas.

Keep the deep persistent layer in mind, especially in thin or rocky terrain where deep layers are most easily triggered.

Sheltered areas will be the best place to find good conditions for skiing and riding.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to the fact that deep persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.
Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

One natural size 3 deep persistent slab avalanche has been observed on a North aspect in the Alpine at the North end of the Maligne valley.

Along the Icefields parkway several natural loose avalanches have been observed in surface snow at tree line and below tree line, as well as one size 2 deep persistent slab avalanche on Parker ridge triggered by natural cornice failure.

Snowpack Summary

Winds have redistributed snow into windslabs in alpine and open treeline areas. The midpack is supportive and sits above 40-60 cm of faceted snow that makes up the lower snowpack. Basal facets and an early season melt freeze crust are located ~30cm off of the ground and remain active as a weak layer in the snowpack.

Average snow depth in the Parker Ridge area is 125-175cm and in the Maligne area average depth is 75cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday

Flurries, 8 cm.

High -4 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Monday

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 4 cm.

Low -11 °C, High -8 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h.

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 4 cm.

Low -14 °C, High -11 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Problems

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.

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.