Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Cirrus-Wilson, Icefields.
20-30cm snow arrived Saturday plus additional 20cm on Monday with gusting winds. Be vigilant for wind slabs and dry loose avalanches in steep alpine and sheltered terrain. It is early season conditions with limited field info, thus you need to make astute decisions.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Monday noted one size 1.5 windslab roadside Hilda ridge. Sunday's Icefield patrol noted several size 1.5-2 wind slabs. An avalanche fatality occurred Saturday in K-country and explosive control produced wind slab and loose dry avalanches up to size 2 on NE alpine aspects. Please consider submitting a MIN report.
Snowpack Summary
20-30cm of new snow on Saturday with another 10cm on Monday plus gusting winds created wind slabs. It overlies a thin and faceted early season snowpack base. Stability tests fail easy at the base.
Weather Summary
Monday will bring 8 cm of snow, -3 °C, and gusting 55 km/h winds. Flurries and gusting winds will continue overnight. Expect flurries, 5cm of snow, and SW gusting 55 km/h winds on Tuesday. Colder temperatures and gusting winds will continue through Wednesday. It could be -18 °C on Thursday.
Mountain Weather Forecast https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Snow and wind loading with gusting winds created a wind slab hazard. The team has limited snowpack observations yet tests show the base is weak and the new snow interface is uncertain. Remain vigilant for touchy and changing conditions.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
Use caution in steep, sheltered areas. Ice climbers should mindful of their overhead hazard.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2