Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 29th, 2017 4:11PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Tim Haggarty, Parks Canada

Jasper.

A few cm of new snow have freshened things up in sheltered areas but wind exposed areas will still feel a bit firm especially with the cold temperatures. A bit more snow tonight will help and the warmer temperatures forecast for next week will too!

Summary

Weather Forecast

Friday remained cold with new 5cm overnight and light winds and trace amounts accumulating through the day. A few more cm are expected overnight before clearing starts again Saturday. Temperatures will warm slowly through the weekend becoming almost warm Monday while winds will remain light westerly winds at ridge top through Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

5cm of new snow now buries isolated pockets of wind slab in exposed ALP & TL areas sitting on an old snow interface of facets, sun crust, wind effect, or surface hoar. 3 crusts extend into the lower limits of the alpine and are sitting dormant in the snowpack, the Nov 24 crust is providing mid-pack strength over the lower Oct 31 crust and facets.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported or observed along the parkway.Explosive control at the local hill on Christmas Eve produced a few small avalanches from isolated pockets of wind slab.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Isolated pockets of hardslab found in the typical areas of the Alpine like ridge tops, exposed features, or ledges above ice climbs. These may have been buried by a few cm and will be a bit harder to detect

Use caution above ledges and cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Dec 30th, 2017 4:00PM