Highway 93 is closed with an uncertain opening day.
High freezing levels and steady precipitation is likely to overload the snowpack. Avalanches may reach or exceed historic runouts.
A 40-80cm slab existed previously and is now being overloaded by new precipitation and warm temperatures. This may be the tipping point for some slopes. Avalanches on this layer may reach or exceed historic avalanche runouts.
Continued precipitation has created a storm slab at higher elevations. Expect them to be 20-30 cm deep around the Bald Hills area.
Very high freezing levels and rain potentially up to 2400m is increasing the danger of wet loose avalanches. They can run far.
Technicians on Tuesday closed highway 93 and could not see much terrain through the deluge of rain and snow. On Wednesday there were numerous wet loose avalanches observed around the Jasper Townsite and the Maligne road up to size 2.
The last 24 hours brought 50cm of warm moist new snow at the Icefields but much less at Maligne. Rain occurred below 2200m. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 20-80 cm but overall the snowpack is generally well consolidated with facets near the ground. Average snow depths for Icefields is 150-220 cm and Maligne is 60-140 cm.
Thursday
16 mm precipitation.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.
Freezing Level 2300m
Friday17 mm precipitation.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 70 km/h.
Freezing level: 2200 metres.
SaturdayCloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Accumulation: 4 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -3 °C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 65 km/h.
Freezing level: 1800 metres.
