Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
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.
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://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.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs are starting to develop at ridgetop.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
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
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