Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Be cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain. Recent winds have redistributed available snow into wind slabs.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Natural windslabs avalanches have been observed around the icefields area to size 1 on east aspects in the alpine. Also, there have been several loose dry avalanches from steep rocky terrain across the region.
Snowpack Summary
Windslabs have formed from moderate, gusting strong NW-SW winds. Currently, the snowpack is averaging 60-120cm in depth at the treeline. 10-30cm sits atop a weakening melt freeze curst and surface hoar layer from early December. The middle of the snowpack is facetted and there is a deep persistent layer at the base of the snowpack consisting of a decomposing melt freeze crust and depth hoar.
Weather Summary
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries (trace amounts). Alpine temperature High of -6 °C. Ridge wind from the west, 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine Low -9 °C, and High -8 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Watchout for reverse loading from NW winds as well as recent SW and W winds.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3