Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 27 – 28, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A Haiku:Deep Persistent Slab.Not very likely to heal.Constantly watchful(so poetry isn't my strength. But, I think you get the idea;)

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Building windslab at tree line and above on lee aspects. It's a continuous problem that requires constant attention in order to ensure your safety and/or riding quality. 

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Large cornices on ridge top lee features. Their sheer mass is a problem. Recent cornice failures have been generally small (a few tons or so;) but are consistently triggering large deep persistent slab avalanches in alpine terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    The deep persistent slab can be triggered by travelers from shallow or weak locations or naturally from large loads such as cornice failure or windslab avalanches. On Mar 25, skiers triggered a sz 2.5 in a consistently shallow area at tree line.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy Tuesday with some isolated flurries and little accumulation. Blustery SW winds at ridge top forecasted to hold steady moderate values with strong to extreme gusts (70 km/h). Alpine temperatures forecasted for a high of -5 °C.

Snowpack Summary

Creamy, pressed and settled surface snow with some wind effect in the open. A spattering of previously buried, near surface wind slabs. Two questionable interfaces dwn between 60 and 100cms though the mid-pack. All this, making up the deep persistent slab; spawning from the whole season snowpack sitting on a  large, weak facet layer off the ground.

Avalanche Summary

New wind load is triggering deep slabs and cornice triggered slabs on North through West aspects, up to size 3.

Confidence

Regions covered