Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 17 – 18, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Public reports of new wind slab avalanches at treeline coincide with Visitor Safety field work today which found touchy new windslabs in crossloaded terrain. Use caution as you transition into wind affected areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Strong winds have redistributed storm snow and wind slab can be found at all elevations. Caution on cross loaded gullies and lee aspects.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Previously formed slabs now comprise the upper and mid-pack in many locations. Natural and human triggered avalanches are possible.

Weather Forecast

5cm of snow arriving for the Icefields Parkway with freezing levels rising to1800m on Wednesday. Alpine high of -6C tomorrow with flurries and SW winds, 20km/hr gusting to 50km/hr. Another pulse arriving Thursday bringing 5-10cm, high winds and freezing levels to 2000m.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of snow in past 72 hours being distributed by mod-strong SW winds. New wind slab forming in areas where snow available for transport. Solar aspects have a breakable crust 10cm thick. Mid-pack consists of buried wind and persistent slab, which lay on a bed of basal facets. Decomposing surface hoar ~40cm down in isolated areas at treeline.

Avalanche Summary

Field team in the Whistler Creek drainage reported isolated large avalanches to size 3 in the alpine from past 72 hours and remotely triggered 2 small avalanches in wind loaded terrain at treeline. These small avalanches are noteworthy because of the remote triggering, the significant propagation and slab thickness that ranged from 20cm to 1m.

Confidence

Regions covered