MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎄
The snow just keeps coming! 15 cm's of new snow fell at the Icefields on Wednesday night and more is expected on boxing day.
There have been many large natural avalanches this week. Stick to conservative, low consequence terrain.
Ongoing moderate to strong transport redistributing new snow from the past week, resulting in significant loading (and reloading) of lee features across a range of aspects.
Plenty of soft snow is available for loose dry avalanches, especially as moderate to strong winds move snow into gullies and steep features. Ice climbers should watch for overhead hazard, as even small sluffs can have serious consequences.
There have been numerous large avalanches up to size 4 in Jasper this last week. New large avalanches are seen everyday. This problem encompasses multiple weak layers of facets, crusts, and basal facets from November and December.
Weather station maintenance flight on December 23rd showed a widespread avalanche cycle across the bulletin region at all elevations. Many prone slopes appeared to cycle early in the storm and have since reloaded.
Road patrol on December 25th saw several size 3 avalanches, most notably one being on Hilda Ridge.
Another 15cm of snow fell on Wednesday evening. Over 100 cm of snow fell in the past week, with strong winds redistributing snow and loading lee slopes. The upper snowpack has ~70 cm over a weak facet layer from December 7. A deeper November 10 weak layer remains about 30 cm above or close to the ground. Snow depth is 140-200 cm in the Icefields and ~100 cm at Bald Hills, where the snowpack is weaker and more faceted.
Thursday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Friday:
Accumulation: 8 cm.
Alpine temperature: High -8 °C.
Ridge wind southeast: 10 km/h.
SaturdayA mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -19 °C, High -13 °C.
