Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 14 – 15, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Yesterday's frontal passage produced only sporadic snowfalls ranging from 3 to 12cm. This was redistributed by moderate to strong SW winds overnight and through most of today. Expect lee sides of terrain features to have soft slabs on them.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3
    The hard windslabs that dominate the alpine snowpack have been unreactive lately. It still may be possible to trigger an avalanche on steep unsupported terrain from thin areas and the edges of these slabs.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast calls for sunny with variable clouds and the occasional light snow flurry with very little snowfall until the weekend.  The weekend may produce some additional new snow.  Temperatures should stay in the -2 to -10 C range.

Snowpack Summary

Hard windslab is bridging the weak basal facets above treeline.  Today's field trip produced a single large whumpf  in a flat area which shows the potential of triggering a slab from shallow snowpack areas. Last night's frontal passage was underwhelming and brought only sporadic snowfalls of 3 to 12cm. Below treeline, the mid-pack is weak.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose snow avalanches originating from a reverse loaded ridge top with a south east aspect in the alpine.  The avalanche patrol was from Jasper to Saskatchewan crossing and return indicating that not much is happening.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Regions covered