Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 4th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
Jasper Snow Safety,
Parks Canada
ICEFIELDS HIGHWAY WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY AND POTENTIALLY OPENING SUNDAY EVENING FROM ATHABASCA FALLS TO SASKATCHEWAN CROSSING FOR AVALANCHE CONTROL. Check 511.alberta.ca for updates.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Sunday will be flurries, 8 cm of snow, -11, and Southwest winds 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h. Monday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace snow, Low -18 C, High -15 C, and West winds 15 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.
Visit CAA's Mountain Weather Forecast for more specific details.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50cm of snow has fallen in the past 72 hours. Buried surface hoar is present up to 2200m in sheltered areas. Moderate SSW winds continue to create wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. The bottom of the snowpack consists of well developed facets, depth hoar, and decomposing crusts. The bottom is weak.
Avalanche Summary
Highway 93 was closed today for avalanche control on Sunday. Some natural activity was noted up to size 3 out of steep alpine features, however limited observations today given the weather. Test pit showed sudden collapse results within the basal weakness. Maligne lake road patrol today observed sluffing up to size 1.5 out of steep extreme slopes.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Wind Slabs
This storm has come in with strong to extreme winds from the southwest. Moderate winds continue on Saturday.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
This weakness could be triggered by large loads or from thin spots in the snowpack. This problem is more pronounced at treeline where whumphing and cracks have been observed.
- Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
The zone has received up to 40-50cm. Caution in steep gullies and terrain traps where a small sluff could have large consequences. Avoid terrain where this problem can initiate slab avalanches on deeper layers.
- Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 5th, 2020 4:00PM
