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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 29th, 2019–Apr 30th, 2019
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Jasper.

Time to reapply that cold snow wax!  Winter lingers on in Jasper, with buried crusts being the only reminder of warm spring days.

Weather Forecast

Continued cool weather & scattered flurries.  Change arrives with a front Wednesday.

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy, treeline low -9, high -5, light N winds, freezing level 1400m. 

Wednesday:  Cloud, snowfall developing.  Freezing level 1700m, treeline high -4, light winds.

Snowfall continues, with around 30cm forecast by the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

15cm storm snow from early in the weekend was reverse loaded by Strong N-NE winds, and overlies several crusts/facet layers in the upper snowpack. Stubborn windslabs can be expected on unusual aspects in the alpine, and in exposed treeline terrain. A faceted midpack layer on shady alpine slopes remains a concern.

Avalanche Summary

No patrol Monday, no avalanches reported. On Sunday, one recent size 2.5 Persistent slab was observed in the Maligne Range. This was on an East aspect, in convex alpine terrain. Meanwhile, no new activity was noted on an icefields parkway road patrol.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Cool temperatures mean little change for this problem; triggering remains possible in the alpine. Crusts in the upper snowpack, and deeper facet layers warrant further investigation.

  • Watch for signs of instability such as recent avalanche activity, and whumpfing/cracking underfoot.
  • Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Wind Slabs

Snowfall with strong N winds created wind slabs on Saturday; however likelihood of triggering is dropping over time. Old wind slabs on N aspects may also remain a possibility on high alpine slopes in the Icefields.

  • Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by N-NE winds.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2