Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 6 – 7, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche control along the Icefields Parkway produced results up to size 3. The recent storm snow is stressing the snowpack and will require some time to stabilize, choose simple terrain that is well supported.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Increased loading on this layer from the recent storm snow has produced a number of releases up to size 3. Triggering is mostly likely from shallower locations around rocky terrain.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    40cm of storm snow is forming a soft slab at treeline and above. It will remain reactive to triggering for the next few days. Where stronger winds in the alpine have transported the snow it may be up to 60cm thick.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Increased loading above this layer from the recent storm snow has produced a number of releases up to size 3. These are mostly from the alpine and treeline elevations and are running down to the valley bottoms.

Weather Forecast

Periods of light snow with accumulations up to 2cm by Monday evening. Winds are forecasted to be light from the Southwest with temps ranging from -10 to -16.

Snowpack Summary

40cm of settling HST in the last 2 days came in under the influence of mostly light, with some moderate southerly winds. Soft slab forming at treeline and above. The mid and lower snowpack is structurally weak, the base of which is large (5mm) depth hoar crystals and a deteriorating rain crust.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control work produced results up to sz 3, some of which stepped down to deep persistent layers or to the ground where weak facets and depth hoar exist. Natural activity was most prevalent in the alpine and similar to the control work, was stepping down, resulting in deep releases, sz 2-3.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Sunday

Regions covered