Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2013 4:00PM

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

garth lemke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Happy holidays! Don't let your guard down with triggering the deep basal weakness.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The area may receive 5-10cm of snow between Sunday and Tuesday. Expect seasonal temperatures and gusting 40km/hr westerly winds at higher elevations.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm last night in the Icefields area is not enough to change the snowpack. It remains generally shallow, weak, with a variably distributed deep persistent slab overlying weak basal layers of depth hoar, crusts, and/or facets. Windslabs have formed in exposed treeline and above areas. Below treeline remains unsupportive.

Avalanche Summary

Four new natural slab avalanches size 2.5-3 was observed today in the alpine on a West aspect in shallow rocks, and steep unskiable terrain at 2400m running on basal weakness. The avalanches were restricted to small area between Boundary peak and Panther falls where snowfalls were slightly more and the temperature dropped quickly in 2 hours.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Expect this layer to persist for a long time. Best to make conservative choices as triggering this layer could have severe consequences. Likely trigger locations are shallow locations but everything is shallow right now.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.Avoid steep, open slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

New snow overnight and winds will continue wind slab development. Fresh snow may be hiding this condition.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets. Be aware of wide variation in snowpack depthCaution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2013 4:00PM