Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Windslabs persist in leeward slopes. Sheltered areas may offer the best chance for finding soft turns,
Multiple crusts from earlier in the season are still present near the bottom of the snowpack and have the potential to be unstable. Consider digging down and having a look in the area you are skiing or riding in.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
One natural size 2 avalanche, failing on the early season crust, and two natural size 2 windslabs were observed on alpine southwest and south aspects on Monday, December 9th near the Icefields.
Snowpack Summary
Throughout the week moderate to strong winds at treeline and above have redistributed up to 20cm of snow into windslabs. There is a surface hoar layer that has been found in sheltered Alpine areas down 40-60 cm's. At the bottom of the snowpack there are a variety of early season crusts with large faceted crystals above and below. Both of these layers have been producing sudden planar, compression test results in test profiles.
Weather Summary
Friday:
Cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulating a trace of snow. Alpine temperature high of -6 °C. Ridge wind from the southwest 15-25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
SaturdaySaturday:
Flurries could see accumulation up to 6 cm. Alpine temperature low of -10 °C and a high -6 °C. Ridge wind from the southwest 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
SundaySunday:
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries accumulating a trace of snow. Alpine temperature: low of-14 °C and a high of -9 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for along time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Recent winds have created windslabs in leeward features. Avoid wind loaded pockets and evaluate carefully before entering steep and unsupported terrain that could be affected by wind. Windslab avalanches may step down to deeper layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2