Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
There is a significant volume of new snow sitting over weak old snow. These conditions are extremely challenging and one should be very suspicious of human triggering on any steep open slope.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Recent regional avalanche observations typically reveal deep, wide propagations through connected terrain features, entraining debris, and traveling rapidly through elevation bands.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storms have brought a further 20-30cm adding to the previous 70-80cm since March 9th. Below this new load, the snowpack is complicated and reactive, having multiple crusts and facet layers including the deep persistent basal layer.
Weather Summary
Overnight: Clear periods. No Precip. Low -12 °C. Light winds.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. High -8 °C. Light winds.
Tuesday: Sunny with cloudy periods. No Precip. Low -14 °C, High -10 °C. Light winds.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low -13 °C, High -8 °C. Light ridge winds. Freezing level: 1500m
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This avalanche problem is associated with a weak facet and crust layer buried at the end of January approximately 70cm down in sheltered areas. This includes a crust layer formed in early March below the recent storm snow which is prominent on solar aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
Well developed facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snow pack can produce large avalanches. Several big avalanches released during and immediately after the March 7th storm. Be suspicious of any slopes that have not released naturally.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5