Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
Weather Forecast
A ridge will reach the coast Friday and bring warmer, moist air to the Jasper region through the weekend. Alpine temperatures will be inverted and reach -6C on Saturday with a chance of a few flurries in the AM, watch for West winds to increase to 15km/h. An increase in the freezing levels to 2200m is called for Sunday as West winds to 20km/h.
Snowpack Summary
10-15cm of recent snow has blown into thin windslabs TL and above. Old slabs 10-30cm deeper sit on a weak layer of facets or surface hoar TL and above. In sheltered areas this new snow sits a faceted upper snowpack at all elevations. A strong mid snowpack crust is providing strength but is weakening. The lower snowpack continues to lose strength.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday, besides a few small windslabs and sluffs from alpine terrain, a sz 2 slab 20cm deep and 50m wide likely failed on the Dec 18 persistent layer. This shallow slab ran a few meters before stepping down another 40 cm (likely through weak facets to the November 27 midpack crust). All of this ran 70m to a cliff triggering a small slab below.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations on Friday
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2