Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 7 – 8, 2017Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

15cm of warm snow Thursday to Friday enhanced ski quality. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully as human triggering remains possible. Forecasters still do not have much faith in this snowpack. 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Cornice failure is hard to predict. Some very large cornices are out there so wise to give them a wide berth.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    This problem will be reduced next few days as temperatures get cooler ; however, light rain may continue on Saturday. Keep this on your radar. Caution is warranted for ice climbers in gullies.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    This problem will persist. Activity has subsided but with all the variables beyond our control, keep this on your radar. It can be triggered by large loads such as cornice failures or human triggered from shallow spots or steep unsupported slopes.

Weather Forecast

For the Icefields, Friday night will have a little warm snow. Saturday - Sunday's freezing level will drop to 1500m and then 1100m on Monday. Temperatures will hover around -3 to -8 and light snow Saturday to Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Good skiing between 1900-2400m in sheltered areas. Icefields received 15cm of warm snow. This rests on a solid mid-pack that is bridging a weak base. The base is a combination of weak facets and depth hoar mixed around a Nov rain crust. Below tree line is a supportive 20cm melt freeze crust sitting above a weak facet layer to ground.

Avalanche Summary

No Patrol or public reports on Thursday or Friday. Wednesday's helicopter flight from Jasper to Sunwapta Resort to Maligne lake reported no new avalanches noted and visibility was good. Tuesday's patrol at Bald Hills also did not note any new avalanches. Despite natural activity subsiding forecasters have low confidence in the deep basal weakness.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Saturday

Regions covered