Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2017 4:00PM

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

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Just a dusting of new snow leading into the weekend. Mostly cosmetic, not yet enough to improve ski quality.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Warmer temps in the west and south of the park with treeline highs of -8 and lows of -17. Snow flurries may produce up to 5cm of snow in the next 24 hours. Winds will be light from from the west.

Snowpack Summary

Cold and below average snowfall has left the snowpack weak, shallow and with several concerning yet inactive layers. The base is rapidly turning to depth hoar above which is a significant rain crust now buried up to a meter below the surface. The upper snowpack is stratified with wind slabs, the bond between is considered fairly suspect.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in the past 24 hours .

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

Problems

Loose Dry

Arctic temperatures faceting the surface snow causing it to lose cohesion and release loose dry avalanches in steep alpine rocky terrain. Particularly concerning for ice-climbers in confined terrain.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Be very cautious with gully features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Cold temperatures and hard slab conditions make triggering less likely. Triggering from shallow spots remains a possibility.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2017 4:00PM