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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 18th, 2024–Mar 19th, 2024
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high
Below Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be high

Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Tuesday will be much cooler which helps with improving overall stability but another cold front storm is coming. Potentially up to 25cm in the region Wednesday to Thursday may increase the overall hazard depending on how the storm evolves.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The past three days have had numerous loose wet avalanches on steep sunny aspects plus large slabs running on the Feb Crust with some stepping down to ground. Saturday's explosive control work released a few size two slabs and wet loose avalanches. Relatively less activity was noted in Maligne lake area.

Snowpack Summary

The recent dramatic warming has moistened surface snow to mountain tops on all aspects and elevations except the high north. The moist snow sits on the Feb 3rd crust interface down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Tuesday will bring flurries, -2 °C, and light winds. Expect flurries on Wednesday and potentially 12cm of snow, light winds, and 2000 metre freezing level. Another 7cm on Thursday, and -16 to -10 °C. Friday could be -18 to -9 °C.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 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

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5