Rapidly rising freezing levels is stressing our sensitive snowpack.
The Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake Road are closed Thursday for avalanche control.
Anticipate full reopening on Friday. Check AB511 for details.
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 1950m, facets buried on Dec 26 are the primary concern.
Watch for overhead pillows or full ledges where loose snow will accumulate.
Overnight: Flurries: 9 cm. Temp: Low -3 °C. SW: 20-40 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Trace. Temp: High -2 °C. Wind W: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. FZL: 1900 metres.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Temp: Low -10 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h. FZL: 1400 metres.
New snow with 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
