Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Some of the signs of instability are tapering off, but we expect human triggered avalanches are still likely at Treeline and above.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been observed or reported in the last two days.
If you're out in the hills, don't forget to post to the MIN. Every bit of information helps!
Snowpack Summary
A few centimeters of new snow around the icefields is now covering a widespread layer of surface hoar and a rain crust up to 1900m. Previous moderate to strong SW winds have formed thin wind slabs in lee features. The Dec 17th persistent weak layer is down 20-40cm in sheltered areas and remains a major concern, especially in wind loaded areas where thicker slabs are present. This all sits on the weak facets and depth hoar that make up the bottom half of the snowpack.
Click here to learn more about these tricky conditions.
Weather Summary
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10-30 km/h.
Freezing level: 1600 metres.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -5 °C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Tuesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 4 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -5 °C.
Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Persistent Slabs
A varied slab sits over the December 17th facet layer. This problem is most significant in open tree line features and in the alpine where you can expect a stiffer, likely more reactive slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
If triggered, the new wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2