Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 13 – 14, 2014Parks Canada

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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon

Tue

Alpine

4 · High

Treeline

3 · Considerable

Below

3 · Considerable

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Highlights

The snowpack has doubled in a short period of time. This has overloaded a variety of weaknesses and created very dangerous avalanche conditions. The Icefields Parkway has reopened for the time being, check road report before making any travel plans.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely - Very Likely
Size
1–3
55cm of storm snow has fallen in the past 48hrs and is being redistributed by moderate to strong SW winds significantly overloading the snowpack. Lee features will be creating dangerous conditions overhead and underfoot.
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Very Likely
Size
1–3
Forecasted new snow will continue to overload an already stressed snowpack.
Deep Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2–4
Triggering any of the above problems have potential to initiate this layer and create large full path avalanches.

Weather Forecast

More snow, up to 10-15cm and extremely high winds are expected in the forecast area over night in through tomorrow.

Snowpack Summary

35 to 50cm of storm snow has been redistributed by moderate SW winds creating wind slab over a strong mid-pack in lee features on top of a weak basal facets layer at the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Control work in the Icefields area produced significant results up to size 2.5. Most slides running in the storm snow but many results continue to scour the ground running on basal facets and burying the road. Of note, in one case, multiple slides were recorded from one shot remotely triggering up to 100m away and over running the road.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered

Jasper