Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 3 – 4, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map

Highlights

While natural avalanche activity may be tapering off, dangerous avalanche conditions still exist and HUMAN TRIGGERED avalanches are LIKELY.

Conservative decision-making remains extremely critical.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Strong winds that accompanied the +50cm storm have produced windslabs in the alpine and treeline.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-70 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4

    The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Tickling this deep layer would result in a high consequence avalanche. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to step down to the base of the snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A widespread avalanche cycle has occurred as a result of the Feb 29th storm. Natural avalanches up to size 3.5 have been observed in the Icefields/Parker Zone on all aspects in the alpine and the tree line running to the end of avalanche paths. Likewise avalanche control along the Icefields Parkway on Friday had several sympathetic avalanche releases from a single explosion.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of new snow fell in this storm with strong winds, creating windslabs. This storms snow is now sitting on faceted snow above a 1-3cm thick crust that is down 35-60 cm. The mid-pack is faceted with basal depth hoar and well developed facets near ground. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.

Weather Summary

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

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -12 °C.

Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.

Monday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -18 °C, High -12 °C.

Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered