Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
The probability of triggering a deep persistent slab may be low but the consequence remains high.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity reported on the Icefields Parkway or Maligne Lake Road today.
Snowpack Summary
A sun crust has been forming on the surface on solar aspects. 15-25cm of snow overlies the Feb 3rd crust, which ranges from 1-3cm thick in the alpine. On shaded aspects, the Feb 3rd crust exists up to 2500m and it is starting to break down. On solar aspects this crust extends up to 2800m and is 15-20cm thick at lower elevations. The Persistent and Deep Persistent weak layers continue to produce whoomphing and sudden fractures in tests.
Weather Summary
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Stable weather for the next three days. Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and trace precipitation. Alpine temperature from -4 to -10°C. Ridge wind SW 10-25 km/h. Freezing level 1800m on Tuesday dropping to 1500m by Thursday.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
- Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of runout zones.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This weak layer, buried 20-40cm deep and human triggering remains possible, particularly in shallow rocky start zones.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Human and natural triggering of these basal facets remains possible.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3