Avalanche Forecast
Issued: May 10th, 2019 5:21PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Persistent Slabs and Cornices.
jesse milner,
Parks Canada
Expect there not to be an overnight freeze well into the alpine for the next couple days. Rock climbing, mountain biking and water sports are an excellent choice as well.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Warm and convective with no overnight freezes.
Saturday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temps: Low 5, High 13. Light west winds. Freezing levels 3600m.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy with 2800m freezing levels and possible showers starting in the afternoon.
Monday: Cloudy with possible showers with up to 4mm Low 2, High 9. Freezing levels 3000m.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack is becoming isothermal into the alpine on shady aspects. The snowpack has transitioned rapidly from Winter to a summer like snowpack. Little to no overnight freezes are expected.
Avalanche Summary
Since the warming trend there has been an avalanche cycle. Numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 2 have been observed in the alpine and treeline. Near Jasper townsite in shallow snowpack areas several large (size 3) slab avalanches have been observed on North to Easterly aspects in the alpine and running into valley bottoms.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
Loose Wet
Summer like temps have created an avalanche cycle. With no overnight freezes and more sunny days forecasted this problem will continue for the next while.
- If triggered loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Weak mid-pack facets and upper-snowpack are reactive, especially on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. This is a Wet Slab problem on solar aspects, as water accumulates above strong crusts.
- If off-trail travel is deep and punchy, avoid all avalanche terrain, including runouts.
- Minimize exposure to big slopes, especially during the heat of the day.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Occasional cornice falls are expected, increasing into the weekend. some of these may trigger large slab avalanches, running well down into lower elevations.
- Minimize exposure to overhead hazard from cornices.
- Stay well to the windward side of corniced ridges.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: May 11th, 2019 4:00PM
