Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Loose Dry, Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

rupert wedgwood, Parks Canada

Jasper.

The Maligne Road remains closed due to continued avalanche hazard.

Summary

Weather Forecast

No new precipitation is forecast over the next 48hrs. Winds will remain light and northerly in the Icefields area. The temperatures will increase into the weekend with increased solar radiation as a ridge of high pressure tracks south.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow appears to be bonding well to previous surfaces, and has been subjected to minimal wind affect. At lower elevations, this storm snow is sitting on a weak and faceted midpack. There is a lot of snow that is plastered to steep rocky terrain that will most likely sluff once the sun hits it in the afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

Monday's explosive control work produced some size 3 soft slabs in the Icefields and Maligne lake areas. Cool alpine temperatures and cloud cover continues to reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the snowpack today. This will change towards the weekend with increased temperatures and clear skies resulting in higher avalanche danger.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

Loose Dry

As the sun peaks out and warms up the day, loose avalanches with significant mass are occurring with increased frequency. They are initiating out of steep W or S facing high elevation rocks or gullies.

Avoid steep Southerly aspects.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

The storm slabs remain soft in nature as winds have yet to firm them up. Soft slab conditions do exist on gully sidewalls and some large alpine slopes as Monday's explosive control work demonstrated. Watch for wind building slabs with this snow.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Solar radiation and daytime warming will start to melt the new snow. This will create moist or wet point release avalanches on steep solar aspects at lower elevation to treeline.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.Avoid ice climbs that are exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2013 4:00PM