Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Let a couple days pass to let the new snow settle in and stabilise. The rapid loading will test the deep persistent slab problem .
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No field patrol occurred on Monday. Sunday's Icefield patrol noted nothing new and visibility was excellent. March 8th avalanche control resulted in few wind slabs and numerous loose dry avalanches up to size 2. Natural activity was not noted in the following days.
Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Approximately 15cm of snow arrived in the Icefields on Monday. It covers a sun crust on South low elevation slopes and surface facets on polar aspects treeline and above. The mid-pack is 20 to 40cm of low density facetted snow. The lower snowpack is generally weak with large facets and depth hoar at the base. Snowpack depth varies from 60 to 160cm.
Weather Summary
Tuesday will be clouds, sun, flurries, -10 °C, and SW 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h winds. Wednesday will be similar with lighter winds. Expect sun and cloud and no new precipitation on Thursday.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Terrain and Travel Advice
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Only 15cm of storm snow arrived Monday yet it will translate to slightly more amounts with local terrain and wind influences. Let the new snow settle and bond for a couple of days.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
The new storm snow is adding to this pre-existing problem where the wind has influence particularly at ridgetops and alpine locations. Previous moderate to strong SW winds formed wind slabs in exposed areas at tree line and in the alpine.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Monday's 15cm of new snow rapidly arrived, will add load, and will test this problem. Use caution is thin snowpack areas where human traffic may be able to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5