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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 19th, 2024–Mar 20th, 2024
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Investigate how the new snow is bonding to the previous surface before committing to any terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches plus large slab avalanches running on the Feb Crust with some stepping down to ground have been observed in the past week on all aspects and elevations.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snow pack is either a crust in the cold mornings or moist snow in the warm afternoons on all aspects and elevations except the high north. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Wednesday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 15 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -2 °C.

Ridge wind light to 25 km/h.

Freezing level: 2000m

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 5cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind northeast: 10 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

New snow is forecasted to fall through Wednesday into Thursday. Watch for how this new snow is bonding to the previous surface and how the moist snow below withstands this new load.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Loose Dry

Loose dry avalanches likely won't be much of a hazard unless they push you into or off a terrain trap. The new snow could be sliding far and fast if the previous moist surface snow forms a slippery crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5