Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 12th, 2023–Feb 13th, 2023

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

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: Cirrus-Wilson, Icefields.

There is a 20cm winter storm warning for Jasper to Saskatchewan crossing. Higher amounts may occur locally particularly with strong winds. This new input is expected to raise the avalanche hazard over the next couple days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Sunday's Icefield patrol had windy conditions and poor visibility. Nothing new was observed. Natural avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed in the icefields region, initiating in alpine and exposed tree line features on Saturday.

Avalanche control with explosives on Wednesday resulted in numerous large avalanches running to the bottom of the avalanche paths.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Sunday night's storm may add 20-30cm of new snow and windy conditions. This will be redistributed by the winds and add to the 10 to 30cm that fell last week creating wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line. Generally, the mid and bottom of the snowpack is weak facets with depth hoar at the base.

Weather Summary

A 20cm storm warning is issued for Highway 93 Jasper to Saskatchewan River Crossing beginning Sunday evening. Locally amounts may increase to 30cm. Expect strong southwesterly winds gusting to 60 km/h. The storm will taper off Monday afternoon.

Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Sunday night's storm may bring 20-30cm of snow in a short duration. This new load will test our snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Numerous large natural and explosive triggered avalanches in the past week have run on this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Strong to extreme SW winds plus storm snow amounts will form wind slabs. Watch for this condition to develop in lower elevations and in non-typical locations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5