Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 22 – 23, 2016Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Intense ridge top winds have scoured many areas at all elevations. Be very careful about getting pushed into dangerous cross-loaded or planar features where the wind slab is present.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Intense ridgetop transport due to strong SW winds has created windslabs. Numerous natural avalanches were observed from a variety of aspects, particularly alpine gulley features and planar NE slopes.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    The depth of this crust is now highly variable, and may as deep as 1m in lee areas that have received significant loading due to strong SW winds. Careful evaluation of this interface is essential with this new loading pattern.

Weather Forecast

Continued gusty SW winds at ridge top with snowfall forecasted but with little agreement from the weather models on timing and total accumulation. Potentially 4 to 8cms overnight. Cloudy with moderate (downright pleasant) temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

Strong SW winds and ridge top transport of faceted snow has occurred for the past 72 hours. New wind slabs in lee areas and cross loaded gullies. Suspect surface hoar (Dec 11) in sheltered NE aspects around treeline (2100-2300m). Nov crust is now on the surface in scoured areas and as deep as 1m+ on lee aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Continued isolated action on Dec.11 surface hoar. 1.5 slab 100m below the crevasse rescue wind lip on parkers ridge. It was 80m wide and 40cm deep. We expect that these types of terrain features will be re-loaded with the current strong winds.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered