Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Start and end your day early, and stay flexible in your trip planning.
The cooling trend hasn't improved travel conditions below treeline.
Confidence
High
Snowpack Summary
Moist snowpack treeline and below where spring temperatures are penetrating well into the snow on all but cold north aspects in the alpine and treeline. Near-surface crusts on solar aspects are unsupportive without a good overnight freeze. A 50-100 cm settled mid-pack rests on top of weak facets, depth hoar, and old crusts. Tree line snow depth is 80-130 cm.
Weather Summary
Overnight: Cloudy, isolated flurries. Low -6°C. Ridge wind SW: 20 km/h.
Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. High -3 °C. Ridge wind SW: 25 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. High 1 °C. Mostly light ridge winds with moderate gusts, freezing level: 2400 metres.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Isolated windslabs on N asps where HST available for transport.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Small avalanches have the potential to step down to this deeper problem layer, made up of buried weaker facets below an crust formed earlier in the season.
Still exists in the snowpack BTL; use caution on steep open slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Cornices
Changing conditions (solar, new load) may result in cornice failure, acting as a large trigger on the slope below. Avoid overhead exposure containing overhanging cornices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3