Avalanche Forecast

Climbers on the Icefields Parkway today reported intense wind transport in the alpine and observed a large avalanche in the Stutfield basin, a wind slab on Mt Wilson, and a serac collapse from below the Normal (Ramp) route on Mt Athabasca which ran for approximately 800m.

Another pair of climbers triggered a small wind slab while approaching the AA buttress of Mt Athabasca Friday morning.

Since Tuesday evening, 17mm of precipitation has fallen either as snow or rain depending on elevation and timing of the cooling weather. Expect to find up to 20cm of new snow in high alpine locations.

Melt-freeze crusts exist on all aspects except North alpine, with treeline and below in transition toward isothermal. The high alpine is still holding on to a winter snowpack on NW to NE aspects with the Jan 24th PWL down 80 to 120cm.

The low-pressure system sitting over the prairies may result in some precipitation on the Eastern edge of the forecast region, but most areas will experience a cloudy day with sunny breaks, North winds to 35km/h, no precipitation, and an alpine high of -5°C.

Wind speeds will taper Sunday and Monday, with freezing levels creeping up to 2000m on Monday.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.