Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Watch for variable wind loading as the winds switched from SW to North and back.
Confidence
High
Snowpack Summary
The last heat has formed a crust to 2600m on all aspects and up to mountain top on solar slopes. Solar slopes at treeline and below have a plethora of crusts in the upper snow pack.
On shaded slopes 10-20cm of recent snow has been redistributed by South to SW winds forming windslabs in the alpine. The Feb 3 PWL is down 40-100cm and remains a concern on shaded aspects and shallow areas, above 2400m.
The basal depth hoar/facets are gaining strength in deeper snowpack areas.
Weather Summary
Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada
Tuesday Evening
Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries. Alpine low -13 °C. Ridge winds from NE 15 to 50km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.
Wednesday
A mix of sun & cloud. Alpine high -7 °C. North ridge winds 15-35 km/h
Thursday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Alp Low: -13 °C, High -9 °C. Ridge wind northeast: 15-35 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate to strong winds have formed wind slabs on previous hard surfaces (sun crusts and old wind slabs).
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
This problem seems to be most active where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 3rd weak layer (down 30-90cm) of facets over a crust. This problem remains a concern on shaded aspects above 2400m.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5