Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

a.l. horton, Parks Canada

Jasper.

A widespread weak faceted base is the root of all concern. Be very cautious in all steep terrain for slab and loose snow avalanches.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A few more cm of snow possible through Friday night with continuing Mod to Strong SW winds.Â On Saturday the winds will subside and temperatures will fall as an arctic ridge builds from the North bringing an end to any possibility of more snow for the foreseeable future.......

Snowpack Summary

SW (M-S) winds continue to build slab on top of a weak faceted snowpack on exposed tree line and alpine features. Warm new snow (2-4 cm)Â pin-wheeling and snowballing on steep terrain below tree line on all aspects on top of a very weak faceted base.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of sz 1 loose snow avalanches observed below tree line from steep terrain on Friday. Loose snow avalanches should be expected in steep terrain at tree line and below. Touchy slab conditions can be expected below ridge lines in open tree line areas and in the alpine.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Significant wind event (Strong SW) transporting available snow to produce touchy wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Loose dry avalanches should be expected in steep terrain, and may entrain significant amounts of snow in gully features.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2016 4:00PM