Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2024–Mar 28th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Watch what the new snow and wind does to the snowpack. The geographical area of most concern seems to be northerly aspects between 1900-2400m where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 2nd facets over a crust weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A group of 7 skiers on Sunday at Icefield's Boundary peak area remote triggered a size 2 slab from 100m away. The avalanche occurred in a thin rocky spot, alpine, N aspect, 2250m elevation, 35 degree slope, and slid on the Feb 3rd facets/crust layer. The group triggered it from the bench above.

Likewise groups have been remote triggering avalanches around the Lake Louise zone up to size 3. These have been failing on the the Feb 3rd layer.

Snowpack Summary

A thin sun crust is present on steep solar slopes at all elevations. Elsewhere has about 10cm of soft snow on top of a 2-10cm melt freeze crust. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 30-90cm. Basal depth hoar and facets make up the bottom of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Thursday

Flurries.

Accumulation: 6 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10-30 km/h.

Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Friday

Flurries.

Accumulation: 10 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10-25 km/h.

Freezing level: 1500 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.