Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Precipitation, strong wind, and warm temperatures on Tuesday night will stress our weak snowpack. Give the new snow time to settle and wait for the temperatures to cool before traveling in avalanche terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous natural size 1-1.5 wet loose avalanches observed on solar aspects at all elevations on the Icefields Parkway today. Wet loose avalanches were noted on all aspects at treeline.
One natural 1.5 wet slab avalanche was reported on an east aspect at 2000m near boundary lake with similar observations near Parkers Ridge.
A natural size 2.5 persistent slab was observed this morning on Mt. Muhigan near the Jasper townsite on Monday. NE aspect at approx 2400m.
Snowpack Summary
15-30cm of snow sits over the March 19th crust which is present everywhere except North aspects above 1900m. Solar aspects have multiple crusts within the upper 30 cm. Widespread wind effect in the alpine with intense wind transport observed on the Icefields Parkways today creating fresh wind slab. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 30-90cm. Basal depth hoar and facets make up the bottom of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.
ThursdayTemperature crust on all aspects up to approx. 2300m. A sun crust will extend to higher elevations on solar aspects. 15-30cm of settling snow sits over the March 19th crust which is present everywhere except North aspects above 1900m.
Weather Summary
Tonight Freezing level 1700m with 10cm of snow & strong to extreme SW wind
Wednesday Isolated flurries in the AM. 1-3 cm Accumulation. Ridge wind SW 15 km/h gusting to 45. Freezing level 1600m
Thursday Cooling with Freezing level at valley bottom. Trace precipitation. Wind E 10-30
Friday Freezing level 2300m
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
ThursdayTerrain and Travel Advice
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Loose slab/wet avalanches are most likely on steep, sun affected slopes. Avalanches may initiate easily on the smooth crust below. If triggered, this snow could step down to the persistent slab resulting in large avalanches
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
This layer may wake up with the warm temperatures. This problem seems to be most active where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 3rd weak layer (down 30-90cm) of facets over a crust. Northerly aspects between 1900-2400m seem to be the problem area.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
Rising winds on Tuesday may increase bring this problem down to treeline. Wind slabs can be found in isolated locations in the alpine, if triggered they could step down to the persistent slab.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2