Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2026–Apr 4th, 2026

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, 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.

Temperatures are rising this week. Plan your objective with this in mind: start early, end early!

We are cautiously gaining confidence in the snowpack; dig and investigate persistent weak layers before committing to slopes.

Great skiing can be found at all elevations.

Confidence

High

We are confident due to a stable weather pattern.

Avalanche Summary

A size 3 persistent slab was observed on the West face of Mt. McGuire on April 1st originating in steep unskiable terrain.

Field teams observed a size 2 wind slab on Boundary peak on March 30th.

Snowpack Summary

Around 15cm of new snow has fallen this week, redistributed by south and westerly wind in the alpine. Below, a firm crust is supportive at low elevations but gradually disappears above tree line, around 2300 m. A deeper persistent weak layer from late January exists down 80–120 cm. The lower snowpack is generally strong although weak basal facets can still be found in shallow areas.

Weather Summary

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -1 °C.

Ridge wind North: 10-20 km/h.

Freezing level: 2200 metres.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind Southwest: 15-30 km/h.

Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind West: 15-35 km/h.

Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.

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.