The storm may be over but the avalanche cycle is not. Avoid avalanche terrain for the time being.
The Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake Road remain CLOSED for avalanche hazard and control. Check Alberta 511 for updates.
Strong winds that accompanied the +50cm storm have produced widespread touchy windslabs in the alpine and treeline. In sheltered areas, where wind has not affected the snow, watch out for storm slabs. These slabs are bonded poorly to the faceted snow and/or crusts they overlie.
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 40-70 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust.
The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Tickling this deep layer would result in a high consequence avalanche. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to step down to the base of the snowpack.
The widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected to continue following the recent storm.
The previous storm on Feb 24-25 produced widespread natural avalanches, size 2-3 windslab and storm slab, sliding on the Feb. 3rd crust and occasionally stepping down to ground. Explosives control produced numerous size 2 windslabs,
Up to 50 cm of new snow fell in this storm with strong south and southwest winds, creating widespread windslab. This storms snow is now sitting on faceted snow above a 1-3cm thick crust that is down 35-60 cm. The mid-pack is faceted with basal depth hoar and well developed facets near ground. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature High, -11 °C. Ridge wind south, 10-25 km/h.
Saturday
Cloudy with scattered flurries (4 cm). Alpine temperature: Low -22 °C, High -14 °C. Ridge wind east, 10 km/h.
