Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 19 – 20, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

A strong south-west wind is ripping through the ridge tops of the forecast region; scouring and loading features with reckless abandon!

Tailing this is a luscious pacific system set to unload up to 50cm of new snow through the weekend. Stay tuned.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong SW winds are creating wind slabs in NW to SE lee aspects. Sensitivity expected to be reactive in the immediate future and may wake deeper, weaker interfaces.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    A few large avalanches were observed during last cycle early in December and we suspect it was on this layer. Triggering the windslab problem has potential to release this lower problem layer.

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather with moderate to strong SW winds for the next few days. Forecast region is under the influence of a weather system tracking from the Gulf of Alaska. On Friday, a sub tropical 'atmospheric river', arrives with rising temperatures and, at times heavy precip through to Sunday.

For more details: Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Sustained moderate to strong SW ridge-top winds likely creating variable soft and hard slabs in all lee features. There is a mid-pack crust/facet interface distributed through the region. It has shown very little reactivity to this point. A weak basal facet/depth hoar layer exists at the base of the pack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Add or view trip reports here at the CAA's Mountain Information Network

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered