Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
The Icefields Parkway and Maligne Road will open sometime on Friday. Stay tuned to Alberta 511 for updates. Keep your terrain choices conservative and be mindful of overhead hazard from new wind loading.
Weather Forecast
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -14 C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10-30 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -15 C, High -12 C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
About 40 cm of storm snow fell in the last 48hrs in the Parker Ridge area. About 30cm around Maligne Lake. Moderate W-SW winds are currently blowing the new snow around in wind slabs or stripping features to ground. Above 1500m the snow in sheltered locations remains dry and light. The snowpack is largely supportive.
Avalanche Summary
Evidence of a widespread avalanche cycle during the storm was seen during helicopter avalanche control on Thursday in the Parker Ridge zone. Several sz 3 avalanches running to ground and numerous sz 2 windslabs were observed running naturally and being triggered with explosives. Two sz 3s were also observed in the Maligne Zone north of Joffre Creek
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
We can expect storm slabs in the trees and in non-wind affected tree line locations. In the alpine with moderate to strong W-SW winds wind slabs are running naturally.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
Wind slabs or other avalanches are stepping down to deep weaknesses near the ground.
- Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls
- Avoid thin rocky or unsupported terrain features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Dry
This problem is isolated to steep and sheltered locations.
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5