Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2018 4:31PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs.

landon shepherd, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Incoming snow should improve the skiing and is not expected to increase the hazard level until Friday. Exercise extra caution if forecast snowfall amounts are exceeded.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Thursday will bring cloud cover and more seasonable temperatures with light flurries of 5-10cm and moderate to strong gusting northerly winds as the trough replaces our high pressure sunshine. Late Saturday is forecast to deliver an additional 15-20cm of snow with continued seasonal temperatures and light winds.

Snowpack Summary

Cooler temperatures and cloud cover will allow continued sintering and settlement of the upper snowpack. Few persistent weaknesses are active in the snowpack. Forecast snowfall with moderate winds should create new windslabs on lee features.

Avalanche Summary

Cooler temps and cloud cover will shut down the current solar-triggered avalanche cycle and new avalanches will require new snow or very large triggers. This past week, avalanches initiating near and below treeline were primarily loose/wet to sz 2.5, but some alpine slopes had also released as slabs to midpack.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Polar aspects still have cold, faceted snow and did not receive either solar triggers or significant snowpack settlement this past week. Steep, unsupported slopes should be treated with due respect.

Minimize exposure to overhead hazard from cornices.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2018 4:00PM