Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Great skiing can be found in sheltered areas, but the avalanche hazard is rising with forecast snow and wind Saturday night.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several Loose Dry avalanches up to size 1.5, and one size 2 wind slab were observed in the icefields area on Saturday. Cracking and small cookies were triggered by the field team in wind effected areas at tree line.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 25cm of storm snow sits on a significant weak layer combination of facets, surface hoar, and crusts. Strong south west winds have redistributed this snow into wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded terrain features in open areas at tree line and in the alpine. The height of the snow at tree line ranges from 50 to 90cm.
Weather Summary
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -11 °C.
Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -24 °C, High -18 °C.
Ridge wind northeast: 10-20 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -25 °C, High -19 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong south west winds have, and will continue to form wind slabs in leeward and cross-loaded terrain features at tree line and above.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Dry
Use caution in steep and/or confined terrain features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2