Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
We are starting to report Spring Conditions hazard ratings below treeline.
Patience is key. There is still a winter snowpack in the high mountains and the hazards that go with that.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Small windslab avalanches and large natural cornice avalanches have been observed in Jasper or just to the south of Jasper over the last couple of days.
Snowpack Summary
New windslabs are forming from moderate south winds and new snow from convective flurries. The upper snowpack at treeline and below is a series of melt-freeze crusts and moist snow. The mid-pack and lower snowpack is dry, faceted and weak. The alpine and treeline snowpack on north aspects remains dry. Average treeline snow depth is around 100-150cm at the icefields area.
Weather Summary
Thursday
Flurries.
Accumulation: 6 cm.
Alpine temperature: High 1 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.
Freezing level: 2400 meters.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C, High -1 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 75 km/h.
Freezing level: 2100 meters.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New windslabs are being formed from south winds and convective flurries.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Small avalanches have the potential to step down to this deeper problem layer, made up of buried weaker facets.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Cornices
Changing conditions (solar, new load) may result in cornice failure, acting as a large trigger on the slope below. Avoid overhead exposure containing overhanging cornices.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3