Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 22nd, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada DK, Avalanche Canada

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Strong winds and snow are forecasted for tomorrow with accumulations up to 10-20cm by Sunday.

While this will improve riding conditions for the weekend, be weary of new wind slab development.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity reported on the Icefields Parkway or Maligne Lake Road today.

Snowpack Summary

The multiple buried crusts within the upper snowpack are starting to lose strength in some areas. The Feb 3rd crust is down 15-30cm in wind protected areas. The Persistent and Deep Persistent weak layers continue to produce sudden fractures in tests.

Weather Summary

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Friday's Weather Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 70 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of runout zones.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are starting to develop at ridgetop.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

This weak layer is buried 20-40cm deep. Human triggering remains possible, particularly in shallow rocky start zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Human and natural triggering of these basal facets remains possible.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 23rd, 2024 4:00PM