Highway 93 is closed with an uncertain opening date.
A large amount of precipitation and high freezing levels are adding load and moisture to the snowpack. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist across all elevations due to a variety of avalanche problems.
A 40-100cm slab existed previously and is now being overloaded by new precipitation and warm temperatures. This may be the tipping point for some slopes. Avalanches on this layer may reach or exceed historic avalanche runouts.
Continued precipitation has created a storm slab at higher elevations. Expect them to be 20-30 cm deep at higher elevations around the Bald Hills area.
Very high freezing levels and rain potentially up to 2400m is increasing the danger of wet loose avalanches with the potential to run a long way.
A roadway patrol from the Jasper townsite to Parker Ridge observed numerous wet loose up to size 3 at Treeline and Below Treeline elevations. Visibility was generally poor and not much of the alpine terrain was able to be observed.
The last 72 hours has brought 75mm of precipitation along the Icefields Parkway but much less at Maligne area, with rain occurring below 2100m. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 40-100 cm. The midpack is generally well consolidated with facets near the ground. Average snow depths for Icefields is 150-220 cm and Maligne is 60-140 cm.
Friday:
Periods of snow.
Accumulation: 17 cm.
Alpine temperature: High 0 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.
Freezing level: 2200 metres.
SaturdayPeriods of snow.
Accumulation: 16 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -2 °C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h.
Freezing level: 1900 metres.
SundayFlurries.
Accumulation: 6 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -10 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
