Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
New snow on Thursday and increasing winds will create wind slabs. Watch for increasing slab development throughout the day.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Two large avalanches noted in the Maligne and Churchill Ranges in the alpine on east facing slopes on Wednesday.
Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate to strong winds are turning new snow into wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line. In sheltered locations 30cm of low density snow lies over a generally weak mid and bottom snowpack with facets and depth hoar at the base. The height of snow is variable from 50 to 150cm.
Weather Summary
Thursday
Flurries.
Accumulation: 6 cm.
Alpine temperature: High -10 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -11 °C.
Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
- Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Southwest winds have created wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Large natural and explosive triggered avalanches in the last couple of days have run on this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3