Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2018 4:39PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

landon shepherd, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Highway 93 from Sask Crossing to Jasper remains closed until Thursday due to Avalanche danger and control work ongoing.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Snowfall tapering off and broken skies and seasonal cool temperatures through tomorrow will persist into Thursday. Friday will see a return of snowfall that will carry through the weekend as a cooler arctic high stalls moister Pacific air over the forecast zone.

Snowpack Summary

30-50cm of new storm snow arriving with warm temps and moderate winds have created both wind and storm slabs that have naturally avalanched on steeper terrain in the Icefields area of the forecast zone. Failure layers are assumed to be one or a combination of the 3 weak interfaces in the top half of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on Parkers Ridge today produced several size 2 avalanches, and one size 2.5Â Avalanches are occasionally stepping down to a deeper persistent slab. Numerous natural size 2 avalanches and two size 3 avalanches failed during the storm overnight on solar aspects above treeline. Avalanche crowns were 50cm-80cm deep and to 150m wide.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Natural Avalanches to size 3 were noted today along with numerous size 2 avalanches failing down 50-100cm on persistent weak layers.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3.5

Loose Dry

widespread from rapid loading of new snow with warm temps and quick settlement.

Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2018 4:00PM