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Avalanche Forecast

Mar 30th, 2023–Mar 31st, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

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

Recent field trips have shown a high amount of variability in the snowpack based on elevation and aspect. This introduces some uncertainty regarding the reactivity of deep persistent slabs in shallow snowpack areas or if tested by large triggers such as cornices.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Sporadic avalanches are still occurring throughout the region. On Tuesday a size 2 avalanche ran in the Churchill North Slide path to tree line.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Sun crust at all elevations on solar aspects. Facets on polar aspects with unsupportive pockets in shallow snowpack areas. The middle of the snowpack consists of multiple layers of dense wind-affected snow, sun crust, and facets. Depth hoar and basal facets make up the base of the snowpack. Snow depth varies ranges from 60-170cm.

Weather Summary

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 1400 m.

Sunday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 5-10cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -8 °C.

Ridge wind northeast: 10-25 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snowpack is inherently weak with well-developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Large triggers like cornices can still initiate this deep persistent slab so be mindful of your overhead hazard and keep in mind that human triggering remains possible in thin snowpack areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5