Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2017 4:00PM

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

Parks Canada a.l. horton, Parks Canada

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Jasper.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=http://www.mountainconditions.com/reports/special-public-avalanche-warning-banff-yoho-kootenay-jasper-feb-17-20-2017Special Public Avalanche Warning has been issued for Jasper due to touchy conditions and newly open terrain around the ski area.  Human triggering has the potential to produce large avalanches.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are to drop below freezing tonight and remain there through the weekend. Light flurries with 5 cm new snow possible by Sunday.  Winds are forecast to be Light SW.

Snowpack Summary

This unsupportive melt freeze crust below tree-line.  The upper snowpack is failing on the weak and faceted lower pack.  Widespread whumphing and shooting cracks were noted on all elevations.  The snowpack is untrustworthy.

Avalanche Summary

1 Size 2.5 natural avalanche reported in the Whistler Creek drainage on steep NE tree-line slope.  No other activity was observed or reported today.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Saturday

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
Widespread shooting cracks and whumphing was noted by the forecasting team as this layer fails.  Especially sensitive in the Portal Creek area.
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
The new snow has buried and is adding to last weekend's windslab in the alpine and open tree-line features.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2017 4:00PM

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