Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Use caution in areas where snow depth changes rapidly. You are more likely to trigger one of the persistent weak layers in this type of terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday several small wind slabs in the alpine were observed. Also one large avalanche stepping down to ground from a falling cornice occurred on Big Bend Peak.
Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Around 13cm of new snow this week sits on crusts on solar aspects, a melt freeze crust below tree line and old wind slab in exposed alpine
Below tree line is in a daily melt-freeze cycle. At tree line the mid-pack consists of multiple layers of sun crusts or facets. Depth hoar and basal facets at the base.
Weather Summary
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Alpine temperature: High -3 °C.
Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.
Freezing level: 1900m
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -7 °C, High -2 °C.
Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.
Freezing level: 1900m
Look for weather products and tutorials at Avalanche Canada
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Several persistent weak layers in the midpack can be found as facets on polar aspects and sun crusts on solar aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Wind Slabs
The winds have become light but wind slabs from earlier this week could still produce avalanches if triggered.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2