Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 25 – 26, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches remain possible on specific slopes such as steep convex shaped wind-loaded features. Skiing is good in sheltered locations. Watch for frostbite with frigid morning temperatures.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Carefully evaluate ridgetop transitions where winds have buffed the surface into a slab. It rests on the suspect surface hoar-facet layer 30cm down. Valley bottom winds have created slab pockets in exposed locations below treeline.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    The persistent slab is intermixed with 2 main weaknesses that will not go away anytime soon, the decomposing surface hoar-facet layer and thick layer of basal facets-depth hoar. Its spatial variability makes it difficult to predict.

Weather Forecast

Next few days will be dry, sunny, and cold overnight temperatures. The sun will hopefully warm up Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to -3 degrees Celsius. Winds will shift to light Southwest. Freezing level may rise to 1000m by late afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 30cm of windslab or softslab, depending on aspect and elevation, is overtop a combo facet-decomposing surface hoar layer. This is most prevalent treeline into the lower alpine elevations. Below tree line there is a supportive yet shallow mid-pack over facets-depth hoar. Alpine is a variety of layers but generally all well bridged.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches were observed or reported. Visibility was excellent.

Confidence

Regions covered