Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 5th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.

jasper snow safety, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Watch for daytime heating destabilizing the surface snow particularly in the late afternoons.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Friday night will be mainly cloudy with flurries, low -3 C, light SW winds, and freezing level 1700m. Saturday will be clouds, sun, flurries, high -3 C, moderate SW winds, and freezing level 1800m. Sunday will bring sunny periods and flurries, -7 to -4 C, 15 gusting 45 km/hr winds, and freezing level 1800m.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is trending isothermal in the afternoons on all aspects up to 2100m including N aspects. This condition tapers off as you ascend. North aspects treeline and above is still a winter snowpack. No windslab exists treeline and below but expect to find it high alpine ridgetops on generally East aspects in isolated terrain.

Avalanche Summary

A team at Hilda shoulder report no new avalanches on Friday. On Thursday, a team at Athabasca pass reports several loose dry avalanches on Northerly alpine aspects. Little recent activity has been noted. Share your observations with the community on the CAA Mountain Information Network

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Loose Wet

Isothermal conditions are occurring on all aspects up to 2100m including North aspects particularly late in the afternoon. Overnight freeze stabilizing the snowpack in the a.m.. Rain at lower elevations can quickly accelerate this process.

Travel early before the heat of the day.Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Westerly and Southwest winds are creating windslabs in high alpine ridgetop isolated terrain particularly on East to Northeast aspects. Watch for local wind influences where this condition could exist on other aspects as well.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 6th, 2019 4:00PM