Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
While natural avalanche activity may be tapering off, dangerous avalanche conditions still exist and HUMAN TRIGGERED avalanches are LIKELY.
Conservative decision-making remains extremely critical.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A widespread avalanche cycle has occurred as a result of the Feb 29th storm. Natural avalanches up to size 3.5 have been observed in the Icefields/Parker Zone on all aspects in the alpine and the tree line running to the end of avalanche paths. Likewise avalanche control along the Icefields Parkway on Friday had several sympathetic avalanche releases from a single explosion.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm of new snow fell in this storm with strong winds, creating windslabs. This storms snow is now sitting on faceted snow above a 1-3cm thick crust that is down 35-60 cm. The mid-pack is faceted with basal depth hoar and well developed facets near ground. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.
Weather Summary
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -12 °C.
Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -18 °C, High -12 °C.
Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong winds that accompanied the +50cm storm have produced windslabs in the alpine and treeline.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-70 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Tickling this deep layer would result in a high consequence avalanche. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to step down to the base of the snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 4