Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 4th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.

jasper snow safety, Parks Canada

Jasper.

A little bit of fresh snow has improved ski conditions. Watch for daytime heating destabilizing the surface snow.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Friday will be a trace of snow and -1 C, mainly cloudy, SW 10-30km/hr winds, and freezing level 2200 meters. Saturday will be cloudy with sun and isolated flurries, trace of snow, and Alpine temperatures Low -5 C and High -2 C, with freezing level 1800 meters. Sunday may bring 13cm of snow and gusting 50km/hr winds.

Snowpack Summary

Last night's 5-10cm of fresh snow covers the recent melt-freeze crust. Below treeline the snowpack is trending isothermal in the afternoons depending on the overnight freeze. Higher elevations maintains softer snow with on-going multiple melt-freeze cycles. On north facing alpine slopes up to 15cm of surface snow overlies previous old dry surfaces.

Avalanche Summary

A team at Athabasca pass reports several loose dry avalanches on Northerly alpine aspects. No local patrol on Wednesday or Thursday and nothing new reported. Little recent activity has been noted. Share your observations with the community on the CAA Mountain Information Network

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Problems

Loose Wet

Daytime heating can destabilize the snowpack particularly in late afternoons depending on the degree of overnight freeze. Rain at lower elevations can accelerate this process.

Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Travel early before the heat of the day.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Wind Slabs

Winds increasing with recent 10-15cm of snow overlying previous crust are potentially forming thin windslabs on lee aspects at upper treeline and higher locations from Southerly winds.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 5th, 2019 4:00PM