Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2018 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.

New and building windslab is sitting on a weak, and typically reactive interface on exposed alpine and TL features. Bigger, uniform, and isolated open features have the potential to trigger large avalanches and should be treated very cautiously.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mixing moist pacific air, and a colder Arctic front bringing a little refresh to the the snow through out the forecast region, 8cm by the end of the day Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to drop significantly through the night Tuesday; waking up Wed. morning to more seasonal Jan temperatures, Alp -20C to -16C . Light flurries and westerly winds.Â

Snowpack Summary

Exposed areas at TL and above have pockets of wind slab, often found sitting on weak facets and surface hoar. The upper snowpack is facetted; like dry sugar in sheltered areas at all elevations. Mid snowpack, a strong crust is providing most of the strength everywhere but BTL. The faceting process (weakening), well underway in the lower snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Approach steep lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

The upper layers of the snowpack have become weak in sheltered areas at TL while the entire snowpack has become weak BTL where it remains shallow. Be cautious in very steep terrain and in confined features where a small sluff could build mass.

The shallow, weakening snowpack makes for difficult trail breaking at low elevations.Use caution above ledges and cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.