Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2017 4:57PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

max darrah, Parks Canada

Jasper.

The Columbia Icefield Parkway will be closed until Sunday March 19 at the earliest due to avalanche conditions. Check alberta511.ca for updates.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures cooling and freezing levels dropping to valley bottom for Friday with a clearing trend. Winds from the SW increasing on Friday. Light scattered snowfall Friday, increasing in intensity over the weekend, with an additional 20cm expected.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of new snow has arrived in the past 24 hours. This soft storm slab is bonding poorly to the old snow surface. The mid-pack consists of persistent slab layers intermixed with weak facets. The base is weak facets, depth hoar, and an ice crust from November. New windslabs forming with increased winds.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control work on the Icefield Parkway produced numerous slab avalanches to size 2.5, but control efforts were limited by weather. One large natural size 3.5 was observed in the alpine near Sunwapta - East aspect, 2700m and ran on the ground (deep persistent basal weakness). Numerous large natural avalanches were observed up Maligne.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Up to 20cm has fallen in the past 24hrs and is bonding poorly to last weeks snow. Soft slabs up to size 2 have been running to the valley bottom and in some cases are believed to trigger deeper releases.

It is a good time to stay within the boundaries of a ski resort.Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Additional loading on a weak base is producing large natural avalanches.

Be careful with low angle slopes that may not normally be a concern.Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2017 4:00PM