Avalanche forecast

Jasper

May 1 – 2, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

If temperatures rise higher than predicted on Thursday, the avalanche danger will increase on all aspects and elevations.  Powder conditions still exist on northerly aspects but not for long!

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Large cornices are looming.  On failure, deep releases may run far into the valley bottom.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The recent storm snow will be sluffing off steep terrain as point release avalanches. Alpine and ice climbers should keep this in mind.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    40cm of storm snow has fallen since Saturday. West and NW winds have moved this snow onto lee aspects. South facing aspects are particularly likely trigger areas where the bonding of the new snow to the old melt freeze crust is weakest.

Weather Forecast

Day time temperatures will progressively rise to the mid-twenties by Sunday.  Overnight temperatures will break the freezing mark by Saturday.  Winds will ease and the sun will shine.  Finally!!

Snowpack Summary

40cm of snow has fallen in the Icefields area since Saturday. This has formed pockets of windslab at and above treeline. Bonding of this slab on Southerly slopes should be considered suspect. Below the new snow a thick melt freeze crust layers cap isothermal snow below. Sun crusts extend high into the alpine on South facing slopes.

Avalanche Summary

No reports of avalanches today.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Thursday

Regions covered