Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 19th, 2015 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Cornices and Loose Wet.

mike eder, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Temperatures and solar radiation will steadily increase the avalanche danger through the day on Monday and Tuesday. Start early and finish early.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Monday and Tuesday will be progressively warmer. We expect good recovery on Monday night, but temperatures will continue to warm on Tuesday with the freezing level staying around 2400m into Wednesday. The weather is expected to deteriorate by Wednesday afternoon bringing some light precipitation with the warm temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of wind slab are present in the upper alpine from previous strong winds last week. At treeline, lee aspects have a series of windslabs layered with thin weaknesses in the upper snowpack. A strong midpack bridges over weak basal facets on Northerly aspects at treeline and above.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural cornice failures to size 2.5 noted in the icefields area on North and Easterly aspects. Intense solar radiation will likely increase the cornice falls and initiate afternoon wet loose avalanche conditions in the next few days.

Confidence

Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday

Problems

Cornices

Natural cornice failures are being observed daily. Pay attention to what is above you and avoid cornice exposed slopes.

Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

As temperatures warm up so does the potential for loose wet avalanches. It may be enough to trigger deeper basal layers increasing the consequences.

Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 20th, 2015 4:00PM