Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Avalanche danger remains high with a sensitive and persistent problem and a snowpack that has doubled in the last week.
Make conservative terrain choices and avoid large avalanche paths and overhead hazards.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Friday an avalanche cycle produced numerous avalanches up to size 3 in alpine terrain, running into treeline. These avalanches showed wide propogation, connecting through multiple terrain features.
Snowpack Summary
A further 20-30cm cm of new snow fell on Thursday brining new snowfall amounts to around 70-80cm. Below this fresh snow, the snowpack is complex, with multiple crusts and facet layers creating persistent weak layers. The bottom of the snowpack consists primarily of weak facets and depth hoar.
Weather Summary
Saturday
Cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 5 cm.
Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.
Ridge wind south: 10-25 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
SundayCloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -7 °C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -9 °C.
Ridge wind west: 20-30 km/h.
Freezing level at VB
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
- Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This avalanche problem is associated with a weak facet and crust layer, buried at the end of January, down approximately 70cm in sheltered areas. This also includes a crust layer formed in early March below the recent storm snow most prominent on solar aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
Well developed facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snow pack are still producing large avalanches in our region. Several large natural deep persistent slab avalanches released during or immediately after the storm.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5