Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 10th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Dry and Deep Persistent Slabs.

jasper snow safety, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Remember a Moderate rating still means human triggering remains possible. A thick supportive mid-pack is critical to safe travel. Shallow snowpack areas are more prone to trigger. Ice climbers must be vigilant for loose dry avalanches in gullies.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Monday will be a mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, alpine temperatures high -15 C, and light ridge winds. Tuesday will be sunny periods with isolated flurries, trace precipitation, alpine temperature low -22 C and high -14 C with light ridge winds. A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

50cm from Feb 2nd was followed by strong N winds and cold temperatures. This snow overlies a dormant but persistent weakness of surface hoar, crusts, and/or facets. Cold temps have weakened the structure of the slab over this layer and it's generally dormant, for now. A basal depth hoar weakness exists especially shallow areas.

Avalanche Summary

A flight from Jasper to Kinbasket lake on Sunday observed very little new activity. A natural slab avalanche (Sz 2.5) was observed on a NW aspect, 2400m above Maligne Lake on Saturday.On Feb 7th, a size 2 deep persistent slab was triggered by skiers in the Maligne area on a W aspect, 1950m, on a 30 degree slope.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

Expect sluffing out of steep rocky terrain. Cold temperatures will loosen the surface snow to the point where it loses structure and avalanches as a point release. They can pick up enough mass to be a concern.

Be cautious with gully features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

Just a reminder, this is still present and can still be triggered from shallow snowpack areas. See avalanche activity summary.

Be cautious in shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3.5

Valid until: Feb 11th, 2019 4:00PM