Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2017 4:00PM

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

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Supportive skiing can still be found in well sheltered areas at TL and below.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Broken skies forecasted for Saturday. Progressive warming over the day and continuing thought the weekend. High's expected to be near -10 in the Icefields area.

Snowpack Summary

A layered, complex, shallow, faceted and weak snowpack. Multiple surface and buried wind slabs overlying a variety of faceted weaknesses to ground. Forecasters backed off a small alpine feature today due to a noticeable change in surface tension and hard hollow sounding wind slab.

Avalanche Summary

A few loose slides observed from steep terrain today. Size 2 shallow wind-slab from the alpine (2600m, SW aspect) on a loaded rib feature on Boundary Peak

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Variable winds have created a complex situation of cross and, reverse loaded features through the region. Stripped ribs, ridge-tops, and open features threaten to push users into areas where the snow is over-loaded and created layered wind-slabs.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets. Be aware of wide variation in snowpack depthCaution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

The faceted snowpack continues to lose cohesion and release loose dry avalanches from steep terrain. This is concerning for ice-climbers and skiers in confined/exposed terrain.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Be very cautious with gully features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2017 4:00PM