Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 23rd, 2015 4:02PM

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

landon shepherd, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Expect the sun to have a lot of influence with the high daytime freezing levels.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Despite Environment Canada's forecast for Jasper, there is likely only 5cm of snow forecast for the next several days. Skies should be broken, with lots of solar effect whenever the sun breaks through. Winds should remain light to moderate, westerly or southwesterly. Freezing levels will be treeline elevation reaching Alpine on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of new snow has fallen in the last 2 days with moderate SW winds at and above treeline. This new snow lies on a variety of surfaces from windscoured locations in the Alpine to melt freeze crusts below treeline and a combination of well-settled snow and crusts in between; mostly depending on the amount of solar exposure of the slope.

Avalanche Summary

1 size 2 slab avalanche near Big Bend on 93S was noted where wind loading and/or rising freezing levels triggered a 70m wide slab from a steep Northeast slope at 2300m. Recent snow and winds had mostly smoothed out the fracture line, and much of the scoured Alpine has a deceptively camouflaged white cover.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent snowfall with moderate winds and rapid settlement from continued warm temperatures will create soft slabs and windslabs in lee features in the alpine and at treeline.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Large cornices or surface avalanches are the likely trigger.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Loose Wet

Expect the sun to have a lot of power when it makes an appearance. Rising freezing levels make a solar trigger much more likely.

Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 24th, 2015 4:00PM