Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 16th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

mike eder, Parks Canada

Jasper.

While the snow distribution is highly variable at all elevations, there is still potential to trigger a slab avalanche in isolated terrain features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The weather will continue to bring snow flurries with small, but steady accumulations. Temperatures are expected to become colder by Wednesday. Gusting winds should reduce sometime Wednesday or Thursday. Light snowfalls will continue into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

The alpine is a mosaic of scoured ground and windslabs on the lee side of terrain features. Gullies on lee aspects will be heavily wind oaded. Strong gusting winds are constantly changing directions. Expect windslab development in unusual locations. The October 27 raincrust is still lurking with facets developing above and below it.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 slab was remotely triggered from below by a skier in the Bald hills on Sunday. The debris stopped short of his location. This occurred on a Northeast aspect in the lower alpine. While there is variable snow distribution on the landscape, there is still potential for slab avalanches to occur in isolated terrain.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs will continue to develop with the new snow and gusting winds. The turbulent winds seem to constantly change direction and gusts are pushing into extreme wind speeds. Expect to find wind slabs in unusual terrain features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Even a small wind slab avalanche has the potential to step down to this layer and to release the facets to ground.

Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Dec 17th, 2013 4:00PM