Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 18 – 19, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Good skiing at treeline in sheltered terrain. Avoid those slopes with cornices overhead

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Although mostly thin some wind slabs are up to 40cm thick in alpine terrain. Solar radiation and cornice collapses can trigger these events. Once triggered the potential to trigger deeper weaknesses exists resulting in larger avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    40-100+ cm thick slabs overlie preserved facetted crystals on N aspects, these have been reactive recently.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5
    Pay close attention to the effect of solar radiation and daytime warming on the snowpack underfoot and overhead. Point release from rocks and cliffy terrain can trigger isothermal snow below. This will be of most concern in the late afternoon.

Weather Forecast

Freezing temps overnight to the valley bottom. Solar radiation can be expected periodically throughout tomorrow with freezing levels increasing to 2,200m and alpine highs of -3C. Wind will be mostly light and from the SW. Overnight on Thursday the valley bottom temps will remain above freezing allowing for limited overnight recovery on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Below 1,900m the snowpack is isothermal. Sun or temperature crusts extend to treeline and continued into the alpine on southerly slopes. Persistent slabs can be found on most aspects at treeline and above . These have been most reactive recently on Northerly facing terrain. Soft windslabs have been developing and are up to 40cm deep.

Avalanche Summary

No reports of avalanche today. Increasing freezing levels and direct solar radiation will produce isothermal slides below treeline. Solar input will trigger avalanches into the Alpine from terrain where snow coverage is thin and near rock outcrops on steep south facing slopes. Small sluffs have the potential to trigger deeper instabilities.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Regions covered