The Icefields Parkway is planned to be closed at 2pm Thursday for avalanche control from Athabasca Falls to Saskatchewan crossing. Please plan accordingly.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs




- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Avalanche Summary
Wednesday's road patrol noted one size 3 noted in Maligne area, likely 3+ days old. Icefield's area noted one size 3 on the Mt Athabasca ramp, and one size 2.5 from a W aspect.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs and extensive wind effect is found in open areas. The upper snowpack is a windslab up to 50cm thick that sits on a sun-crust on solar aspects and facets on polar aspects. In many location the snowpack is facetted yet switching to spring snowpack conditions slowly.
Weather Forecast
Thursday will be cloudy and flurries, 5cm of snow, High of -6 and 15-40km/hr SW winds. Friday will be 12cm of snow, -18 to -6 degress Celsius, and light to 45km/hr West winds. Saturday will be sun and cloud, no precipitation, Alpine temperature Low -20 C, High -8 C, light ridge wind.
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Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
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Wind slabs sit on a hard melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and facets on polar aspects. Assess the bond at these interfaces carefully before committing to any avalanche zones.