Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
Strong winds and falling snow throughout the day will create fresh wind slabs.
Weather Forecast
Parker Ridge Area
Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -9 C. Ridge wind SW: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -12 C, High -7 C. Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
Strong winds are creating wind slabs in the alpine and down into tree line. About 10cm of new snow, where not wind affected, is overlying surface hoar up to 2500m and widespread faced snow at all elevations. The snowpack is generally supportive despite facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack. The snowpack is 40-150cm.
Avalanche Summary
No patrol yesterday. On Monday natural avalanches (loose dry and wind slabs) up to sz 2 were observed from all elevations.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Forecasted light snow and moderate winds may form new slabs on leeward and cross-loaded terrain features. These slabs will probably not bond well to the current snow surface.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
Be cautious of thick to thin snowpack areas being likely trigger locations.
- Use caution in thin snowpack areas.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3