The avalanche cycle has started. Saturday, March 16th the Icefields Parkway will be closed from 13:00 to 20:00 for avalanche control from Parker Ridge to Saskatchewan Crossing. No climbing/skiing/winter activities within the closure. Afternoon road closures are possible on Maligne Lake Road.
Check AB511 for immediate updates
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.
Strong and extended solar and temperature change is expected on all aspects. Open and exposed terrain will accelerate this process and may initiate deeper instabilities.
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.
Numerous loose wet, avalanches were observed on steep sunny aspects. Large slabs have been observed across Jasper running on the Feb Crust and some stepping down to ground.
The forecasted warmup will be a dramatic change to the surface and mid-pack condition of the snowpack. This change will happen over an extremely reactive crust interface down 35-60cm. This persistent weak layer has been consistently producing large natural avalanches. The equally worrisome basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.
Parker Ridge Saturday
Sunny
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High 6 °C.
Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.
Freezing level: 3200 metres.
Sunday
Sunny
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low 2 °C, High 5 °C.
Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.
Freezing level: 3500 metres.
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
