Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
A substantial amount of snow has accumulated over a weak underlying snowpack. Large avalanches have been reported in the forecast region and remote triggering is a significant concern. Stick to low angle terrain well away from steeper slopes.
Confidence
Moderate
Snowpack Summary
Wind slab development March 18th and 19th at tree line and above. Storms on March 9th and March 13th brought 70-90 cm which is settling and creating a supportive midpack. Below this new load, the snowpack is complicated and reactive, having multiple crusts and facet layers including the deep persistent basal layer.
Weather Summary
Overnight: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -7 °C. Ridge top wind southwest: 15-35 km/h.Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -4 °C. Wind: 15-35 km/h. Freezing level: 1600 meters.
Friday: Flurries: 7 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -6 °C. Wind: 15 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This avalanche problem is associated with a weak facet and crust layer buried at the end of January approximately 70cm 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: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
Developing, if triggered expect to initiate lower weaker persistent layers creating a large avalanche.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
Well developed facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snow pack can produce large avalanches. Several big avalanches released during and immediately after the March 7th storm. Be suspicious of any slopes that have not released naturally.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5