This storm is causing rapid loading on an already unstable snowpack. Avoid avalanche terrain as a natural avalanche cycle is expected.
The Icefields Parkway is CLOSED for avalanche hazard and control. Check Alberta 511 for updates.
Touchy windslabs from recent strong winds exist in alpine and treeline, and possibly in open areas below treeline. These slabs are bonded poorly to the faceted snow and/or crusts they overlie.
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell.
The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Tickling this deep layer would result in a high consequence avalanche and any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to step down to the base of the snowpack.
A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected on Thursday.
Up to 50 cm of new snow is expected to fall in this storm with strong southwest winds. This new snow is falling on 15 to 50 cm of previous storm snow that had widespread windslab development. Both storms are now sitting on faceted snow above a 1-3cm thick crust that is down 35-80 cm. The mid-pack is faceted with basal depth hoar and well developed facets near ground. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Thursday
Flurries, 5-10cm. Alpine temperature: High -5 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom. Ridge wind southwest 15 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -16 °C, High -11 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom. Ridge wind south: 10-25 km/h.
