Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 14 – 17, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Start and end your day early. Solar radiation and daytime warming can rapidly increase the avalanche hazard.

The deep persistent layers are still in the snowpack. Be careful on high north aspects where there are no crusts above these layers.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent winds from the south-west have created wind slabs in lee features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4

    The middle and bottom of the snowpack is comprised of weak facets. The likelihood of triggering this layer has been decreasing but if triggered, would likely result in a large destructive avalanche.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Expect loose wet avalanches with increased solar radiation and warming.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Recently large cornice failures and small wind slabs have been observed at alpine elevations.

On Sunday a size 3.5 deep persistent avalanche was observed on the subpeak to the east of Mt. Saskatchewan.

Snowpack Summary

5-20 cm of recent new snow exists in sheltered areas at the icefields. Wind slabs exist in lee features. The upper snowpack at tree line and below is a series of melt-freeze crusts and moist snow. The mid-pack and lower snowpack is dry, faceted and weak. High north aspects do not have any of crusts in the upper snowpack which may make it easier to trigger the deep persistent layer.

Average treeline snow depth is around 100-150cm at the icefields area.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with clear periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -2 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 1900 meters

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High 0 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15-35 km/h.

Freezing level: 2200 meters.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind north: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 1600 meters.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Regions covered