Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Sunny skies and clear weather this weekend may be inviting, but don't let your guard down. Recent snow, sun and warm temps continue to stress the snowpack.
Deeper instabilities and persistent weak layers remain reactive. Give the snowpack time to recover, stick to conservative terrain, and avoid overhead hazard.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Road patrol on the Icefields Parkway observed numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 1 occurring immediately after the sun appeared. A natural size 2.5 deep persistent slab was seen on a north aspect in the Parkers area, along with several new size 2 persistent slabs, also triggered by solar warming.
Recent snow and warm temperatures continue to drive daily natural avalanche activity at treeline and below. Poor visibility has limited alpine observations this week.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of moist surface snow is present up to 2300 m. The upper snowpack consists of up to 25 cm of new snow from this week, which is settling rapidly and sits atop newly formed crusts from recent snow, warming and/or rain. A 50-100 cm settled mid-pack rests over the March and January facet interfaces. The lower snowpack remains weak, with depth hoar and old crusts. Snow depth at treeline ranges from 110 to 170 cm.
Weather Summary
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature: High -3 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level: 2000 metres.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C, High -2 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h. Freezing level: 2000 metres.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This avalanche problem is associated with a weak facet and crust layer buried at the end of January approximately 80cm down in sheltered areas. This includes a crust layer formed in early March below the recent storm snow which is prominent on solar aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
Field teams continue to observe deep persistent slab avalanches this week. Avalanches in the upper snowpack may have the potential to step down to these deeper weak layers, leading to larger, more destructive slides. Consider this layer when evaluating overhead hazard and terrain choices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Loose Wet
Recent snow and warm temperatures will lead to wet loose avalanches when the sun appears. These have the potential to trigger deeper weak layers within the snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2