Rising temperatures will stress the snowpack.
The Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake Road are expected to close Wednesday at 1200h - Thurs PM for avalanche control.
No skiing or Ice climbing during this period please.
Check AB 511 for up to date info.
Wind slab development will continue with new snow available on wednesday and strong SW wind. Expect wind slabs to become increasingly reactive as temperature rises.
A persistent slabs sit over 2 different layers depending on elevation. Below 1950m, the persistent weak layer is the Dec 1 rain crust. Above 19950m, facets buried on Dec 26 are the primary concern.
Wednesday: Flurries. 6 cm accumulation.
SW wind 15-35 km/h
Freezing level 1800m
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Trace precipitation.
West wind 20km/h gusting 60.
Freezing level 1900m
Friday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.
SW wind 20km/h
Freezing level 1400m
Strong SW are creating wind effect and building windslabs on leeward slopes. These windslabs are expected to become more reactive as temperature rises. The mid snowpack remains faceted with the December persistent weak layers buried 40-70cm. Basal facets and depth hoar can be found at the base of snowpack.
Several natural loose dry avalanches observed on the Icefields parkway and on Maligne lake road over the past 24h
