Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 11 – 12, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Recent winds have formed new windslabs on lee aspects below ridgecrests above treeline.  These slabs are roughly 10-15cm thick, and where they are sitting on previous crusts may be reactive to skier traffic.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Several cornice failures were observed in the past 48hours and some of these did trigger storm slabs on the slopes below up to size 2. 

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Recent snowfall came in warm and stuck to steep rock and ice.  This terrain will shed this snow with daytime heating.

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Good overnight freeze for Thursday night, with freezing levels hovering around 1200m during the daytime for the next few days.  Winds light to moderate from the SW with convective precipitation expected through the weekend with up to 15mm of precipitation possible by Sunday evening.

Snowpack Summary

Melt freeze crust below 2000m on all aspects, new windslab (10cm thick) found on lee aspets at exposed ridgecrests above treeline.  10cm of new snow in past 24 hours, rapidly settling and moist below 2200m.  Sun crust on solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural slab avalanches observed in past 24 hours in both the Columbia Icefield Area and Maligne Lake district.  Size 2 - 2.5, on lee aspects below ridgelines between 2200-2400m.  Several large cornice failures reported, and some of these did trigger storm slabs on the slopes below to size 2.  Loose dry point releases on steep N terrain.

Regions covered