Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2016 4:00PM

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

garth lemke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Conservative route decisions will be the key the next little while. Give this new snow time to stabilize.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Will be very light snow on Sunday. -9 to -15, and light to calm winds. Sun, clouds, and cool temperatures after that. Little change is expected now until Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm fell in the Icefields area on Thursday with moderate SW winds building touchy soft slabs on lee slopes at tree line and above. It rained at lower elevations making for a potential rain crust surface. This new snow rests on either a decomposed surface hoar layer that has formed the last few weeks or a facetted unconsolidated snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday natural activity noted up to size 3 running relatively far on a variety of aspects mainly in alpine. Explosive work was mixed results with sluff's to soft slabs up to size 2.5 on the range of aspects and elevations. On Friday, a skier accidental at Parkers Ridge, size 3, 1 involvement, no injuries. Depth 10-240cm x 400m x 400m.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

30 cm of storm snow from Thursday continues to build into a slab overlying a weak facetted snowpack or decomposed surface hoar layer. It will continue to evolve the next few days.

The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Recent storm snow has formed touchy slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Triggering is very likely in steep terrain. Thursdays' new snow added to this problem in many locations.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2016 4:00PM