Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2019 4:00PM

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

Deryl Kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Start your back-country adventures early, and end them early! Highway 93N will be closed Sunday at 1500. From Athabasca Falls to Saskatchewan River Crossing for Avalanche Control. Check Alberta 511 for details and updates.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure is bringing the heat. Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: Overnight Saturday, Low: -8, High 4°C.Ridge wind light to 20 km/h. Freezing levels will rise as high as 2200 metres; up to 2800 metres on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow treeline and below and the alpine is heavily wind effected. Deep snowpack areas are relatively strong through most of the region. Shallow areas are weak, and will morph quickly to moist 'spring like' slab conditions from the surface down. With the persistent basal weakness, this could fail with the full depth of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose wet avalanches on steep, solar, rocky below treeline features and a windslab avalanche in the alpine on a cross-loaded south feature at 2500m.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Problems

Wind Slabs

Fresh wind slabs sit on a variety of old surfaces. Winds continue to gust moderate from the SW.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Wet

Watch out for any sunny, steep features. Expecting good recovery to the surface freeze, overnight Saturday. Progressively rising Hazard over the daytime.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2019 4:00PM