Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 26th, 2026–Apr 27th, 2026

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Regions

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

An all freeze and no melt situation continues for another day but is likely to change soon with afternoon warming, less overnight re-freeze, and rising freezing levels. Watch for pockets of wind slab and large ominous cornices. They may be reactive to people and solar radiation.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Climbers on the Icefields Parkway Friday reported intense wind transport in the alpine and observed a large avalanche in the Stutfield basin, a wind slab on Mt Wilson, and a serac collapse from below the Normal (Ramp) route on Mt Athabasca which ran for approximately 800m.

Another pair of climbers triggered a small wind slab while approaching the AA Glacier on Friday morning.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of snow arrived last Wednesday. It has settled and been redistributed by localized North winds. Melt-freeze crusts exist on all aspects other than North alpine. The snowpack at treeline and below is wet below a surface crust. High, North slopes have remained cool and have a dry, winter-like snowpack.

Weather Summary

Expect Monday to be a mix of sun and cloud, no new snow, -1 °C, light winds, and 2100m freezing level. Tuesday may bring flurries, 5cm of snow, -4 to 0 °C, light wind, and slightly higher freezing level. Freezing levels will increase to 2600m on Wednesday and slightly higher on Thursday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

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.