Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 13 – 14, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

The snow cover is presenting several avalanche problems that are quite elevation dependent.  Pay attention to changing conditions as you move through the hills.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Recent winds have created a slab condition in the alpine. Cornices are growing and we observed two cornice triggered avalanches yesterday.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The recent storm snow, redistributed by wind is now over loading the snowpack. A field team in the Icefields area yesterday remotely triggered several slab avalanches and experienced extensive whumphing at tree line elevations.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Expect the avalanche danger on sheltered solar aspects to be suspect during the heat of the day.

Weather Forecast

Some flurries of snow in the next 24 hours and light south westerly winds. More snow is forecast over the weekend with some models giving close to 20cm of snow in the Columbia Icefields area by Sunday night.

Snowpack Summary

Very strong winds and mild temperatures have lead to touchy slab conditions at tree line and in the alpine. The surface condition is now a stiff wind slab or old scoured snowpack on exposed slopes. Large cornices exist along ridge lines. Good skiing can still be found in sheltered locations.

Avalanche Summary

Field team remotely triggered several avalanches in the Parker Ridge and Hilda Creek area yesterday. These stiff slabs were easily triggered from adjacent slopes. Two cornice triggered slabs that stepped down to ground on steep rocky faces in the alpine was also observed yesterday.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Regions covered