Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 12 – 13, 2013Parks Canada

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Avalanche danger

Sat

Sun

Alpine

3 · Considerable

Treeline

2 · Moderate

Below

2 · Moderate

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Highlights

Its cold but the skiing is good. Watch for wind affects where it converts the storm snow into a slab condition.

Avalanche problems

Loose Dry
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible - Likely
Size
1–2
Winds have left the 30cm of storm snow from Wednesday relatively untouched "so far". It remains low density which causes sluffing and picking up significant mass in some cases to be a concern especially if terrain traps are involved.
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1–3
30-50 cm thick soft slabs have formed where winds have touched the slope. This may overlie a buried surface hoar from Jan 6 in sheltered locations. Winds are forecasted to be moderate N on Saturday which may create slab conditions.

Weather Forecast

Saturday: mainly sunny, light to moderate alpine winds, frigid temperatures. Sunday: mixed clouds, light flurries, frigid temperatures. Monday: Scattered flurries and warming trend.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of low density storm snow fell on Wednesday. Winds have yet to move it around. Low elevations it sits on a facetted thin snowpack. In tree line its on thicker supportive mid-pack. In wind exposed tree line and alpine areas, some very soft slab have formed on a variety of aspects. A buried a surface hoar layer from Jan 6 is lurking.

Avalanche Summary

Thursday's explosive control on low elevation targets released several size 2 slabs and loose snow avalanches. Natural activity was limited. Wind needs to firm up the snow into a slab. Fridays patrol was excellent visibility. Only a few size 2 soft slabs were noted from steep terrain. Sluffs up to size 2 out of extreme terrain were more prevelant.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered

Jasper