Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 22nd, 2016 4:00PM

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

max darrah, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Good skiing in sheltered areas. Heads up for steep terrain that has been loaded by three days of good snow transport in the alpine.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Light scattered flurries accompanied by light South Westerly wind. Cooling and clearing trend over next 72 hours. Heavier amounts of snowfall are expected starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Lower density snow sits on top of a 5-10cm thick crust between roughly 2100m and 2600m. Southwest winds have created new pockets of wind slab, which may be touchy in crossloaded areas within the elevation band where the crust exists. Facets were found on this crust today, but the snow appears to be quite well bonded to this layer at this time.

Avalanche Summary

There was a significant skier triggered avalanche on Parker Ridge Sunday that was reported by the public. Slide was remotely triggered from 50m away by the third skier in the party and was a 60cm windslab that ran on the Nov 12 crust. Unconfirmed dimensions are 40m wide and ran for 250m; North. No involvement. No natural activity observed today.

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Be cautious of isolated pockets of wind slab in immediate lee and cross-loaded terrain in the alpine.

Be cautious of buried obstacles in shallow snowpack areas.Use caution in lee and cross-loaded areas. Recent wind loading has created new wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

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