Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 29th, 2017 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices and Deep Persistent Slabs.

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

With forecasted warm valley bottom temps and rain, treat any slope below 2000ms with caution for wet loose slides.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Light precip forecasted over the night Wednesday. Expecting no more than a trace of new snow. Ridge tops temperatures to a high -3 °C. Light westerly winds through the day.

Snowpack Summary

Creamy and settled surface snow with some wind effect in the open. Near surface non-persistent weaknesses, active on typically problematic features like convexities and immediate lees. Interfaces dwn between 60 and 100cms though the mid-pack with inconsistent mod to hard field test results. All this, sitting on a large, facet layer off the ground.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity seen or reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Building windslab at tree line and above on lee aspects. It's a continuous problem that requires constant attention in order to ensure your safety and riding quality.

Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from wind.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Cornices

Large cornices on ridge top lee features. Their sheer mass is a problem. Recent cornice failures have been generally small (a few tons or so;) but are consistently triggering large deep persistent slab avalanches in alpine terrain.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The deep persistent slab can be triggered by travelers from shallow or weak locations or naturally from large loads such as cornice failure or windslab avalanches.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Avoid paths that have not avalanched recently.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2017 4:00PM