There is a High Risk of Avalanches occurring in the mountains west of Calgary and Edmonton. Photo by Stephen Strand
While the weather is warming this week, the risk of avalanches occurring in the mountains west of Edmonton and Calgary is increasing.
Today (Tuesday, March 17), there is a High Risk of avalanches occurring from north of Grande Cache to just south of Banff.
From Canmore to the south, there currently is a Considerable risk of avalanches occurring today.
Throughout the remainder of the week, though, the risk of avalanches occurring will increase.
By Wednesday, the mountain range between Canmore and Mist Mountain will have a High Risk of avalanches occurring, and by Thursday, the mountain range from Mount Murchison to south of Banff will have an Extreme risk of avalanches occurring.
In this mountain range, the hazard is starting to increase as a series of atmospheric rivers bring warmer temperatures, extreme wind, and heavy precipitation to the area.
A significant and widespread natural avalanche cycle is also expected to begin this afternoon (March 17), and will likely continue throughout the rest of the week.
In this area, strong to extreme winds, warming temperatures, and 30-50 cm of recent snowfall will continue to form widespread wind slabs at treelines and above.
Natural avalanche activity related to this problem is expected over the next few days.
There is also a storm expected to hit that area today.
Environment Canada has issued a Snowfall Warning for the mountain range from Jasper to Lake Louise.
According to Environment Canada, significant snowfall will hit the Icefields Parkway.
Snowfall amounts will vary over the Parkway, but at Sunawapa Pass, Bow Summit and the Icefields Visitor Centre, an additional 20 centimetres of snow is expected by the end of day Wednesday.
More significant snowfall is likely Wednesday night in this area.
Travel will likely be challenging in those areas, as roads and walkways will likely be difficult to navigate due to the accumulating snow.
Highway 93 from the Saskatchewan River Crossing to Athabasca Falls was closed at noon today (March 17) for avalanche control activities.
There is no indication on when the highway will reopen.
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