Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 20 – 21, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

The new snow seems to bonding well but the deep persistent and persistent problems still exist. Use caution in terrain that hasn't already avalanched.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Loose dry avalanches likely won't be much of a hazard unless they push you into or off a terrain trap.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom of the snowpack. This is a low probability but high consequence problem. Stay away from weak, rocky, shallow location where triggering this layer is more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were observed along the Icefields Parkway or Maligne Lake Road on Wednesday but visibility was poor.

Snowpack Summary

About 10cm of new snow fell onto a 2-5cm melt freeze crust on Wednesday. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -6 °C.

Ridge wind northeast: 10 km/h.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -15 °C, High -9 °C.

Ridge wind east: 10 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Regions covered