Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Remember that this cold weather makes even a minor injury potentially serious. If you're brave enough to adventure in this weather then keep your days short and conservative.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several Loose Dry avalanche were observed from steep rocky features to size one on Thursday from across the region.
Snowpack Summary
10cm of recent snowfall has been redistributed by North East winds. This is creating isolated wind slabs on non-typical SW aspects. The snowpack is structurally weak, with mixed facets, and depth hoar in the base. Sheltered areas have an average snow depth of ~45-75 cm.
Weather Summary
Friday
Sunny
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -31 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Saturday
Sunny
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -33 °C, High -24 °C.
Light ridge wind.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
You must keep this basal layer on your radar as triggering is possible in isolated features, such as steep rocky terrain where you find yourself standing on the surface and not wallowing in facets, that's the problem slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Reverse loading from NE winds are creating wind slab on non-typical SW aspects in the alpine.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
The cold temperatures and the clear skies will trigger loose dry avalanches from steep rocky terrain. These avalanches by themselves will be of low risk unless you are in a terrain trap or above a cliff.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2