Heavy recent snowfall and strong winds along the Icefields Parkway have created significant wind loading and produced large avalanches.
Avoid overhead hazard and consider staying out of avalanche terrain until the snowpack adjusts.
Highway 93 will remain closed for December 20th - Check 511 alberta for updates.
Winds have been in the strong values and have considerably loaded lee features from a variety of directions. Local terrain influences and changing wind directions may load non-typical locations.
Up to 30 cm of snow over the past 48h arrived with cooler temperatures and sits above the significant accumulation of Tuesday's storm.
December 19th avalanche control along highway 93N produced large destructive deep persistent slab avalanches. This problem encompasses multiple weak layers of facets, crusts, and basal depth hoar from November and December.
Avalanche control on Highway 93N produced numerous avalanches up to size 4 running fast, far and very destructive.
Natural avalanches up to size 4 have been reported along the closed section of highway 93N in the last 48 hours. Natural activity is expected to continue with snow and wind forecasted to continue.
Continuous snow since December 14th has accumulated to up to 110cm in the Parker's area. Strong to extreme winds have significantly loaded lee features. The height of snow is up to 140-180 cm in wind protected areas for this zone. Snow depth is up to 100 cm in the Maligne area. Weaker facet layers are now buried deep within the snowpack.
Saturday
5-10cm precip. Alpine temperature: High -11 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15-30 km/h.
SundayCloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. 5 to 10cm of precip. Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -10 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 10-30 km/h.
MondayAnother expected 5-10cm of precip. Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -10 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h.
