Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 10 – 11, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

New and building windslab is sitting on a weak, and typically reactive interface on exposed alpine and TL features. Bigger, uniform, and isolated open features have the potential to trigger large avalanches and should be treated very cautiously.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    New and building windslab is sitting on a weak, and typically reactive interface on exposed alpine and TL features. Bigger, uniform, and isolated open features have the potential to trigger large avalanches and should be treated very cautiously.
  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The upper layers of the snowpack have become weak in sheltered areas at TL while the entire snowpack has become weak BTL where it remains shallow. Be cautious in very steep terrain and in confined features where a small sluff could build mass.

Snowpack Summary

Exposed areas at TL and above have pockets of wind slab, often found sitting on weak facets and surface hoar. The upper snowpack is facetted; like dry sugar in sheltered areas at all elevations. Mid snowpack, a strong crust is providing most of the strength everywhere but BTL. The faceting process (weakening), well underway in the lower snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Mixing moist pacific air, and a colder Arctic front bringing a little refresh to the the snow through out the forecast region, 8cm by the end of the day Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to drop significantly through the night Tuesday; waking up Wed. morning to more seasonal Jan temperatures, Alp -20C to -16C . Light flurries and westerly winds. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered