Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 22 – 23, 2021
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for the avalanche danger to rise on Wednesday with the incoming storm.

Expect travel delays on the Icefields Parkway Thursday due to avalanche control. Check AB511 for updates.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Increasing winds and new snow overnight and through the day on Wednesday will create new wind slabs in lee features.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    This problem is trending toward unreactive but our current snowpack structure means this layer could wake up with a large trigger or rapid loading. Use extra caution in thin areas were humans are most likely to trigger this high consequence layer.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 14 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -8 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Thursday

Flurries.

Accumulation: 10 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -16 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been redistributed by variable winds creating fresh wind slab in the alpine and on exposed terrain features at treeline. The mid snowpack has settled well with a deteriorating rain crust present up to 1950m. Cold temperatures and a crust/facet layer near the base of the snowpack continues to promote basal faceting.

Avalanche Summary

Two size 1 wind slab avalanches were triggered by explosive avalanche control on Sunday in the Parkers ridge area. Avalanches occurred on cross loaded, alpine features below ridge top. No recent natural avalanche activity observed.

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Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Regions covered