Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 2 – 3, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Weaknesses deep the in the snowpack can be triggered from shallow areas or by large triggers. Daytime and solar heating will weaken cornices, avoid traveling under or to close to them.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    New windslab formed by recent SW winds could be reactive and if triggered, could step down to the deep persistent slab.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Cornice failure is hard to predict but is more likely with inputs like solar radiation and wind-loading.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    This problem is unlikely to disappear. It can be triggered by large loads like cornice fall or windslab failure. Human triggering is most likely from shallow spots or on steep unsupported slopes.

Weather Forecast

Light flurries Monday afternoon with a mix of sun and cloud, light winds from the NW. Freezing level up to 1600m with an alpine high of -5. Clear skies and warming temps for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

12cm new snow in the past 36hrs, winds gusting to 60km/hr from SW building slab. The mid-pack is bridging the basal weakness, which consists of weak facets, depth hoar and the Nov rain crust. Isothermal conditions below tree-line on solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Recent cornice and windslab failures have triggered the deep persistent slab creating large full path avalanches that are traveling into valley bottoms. Loose wet avalanches have been occurring on steeper south and west aspect below tree-line.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday

Regions covered