Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 21st, 2019 4:00PM

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

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

First spring-like hit of sun on Thursday. Solar initiated dry and moist loose slides probable on solar aspects (SE through W; eg. Weeping Wall). Keep aware for localized signs of increasing hazard! Time to consider an earlier start to your day?

Summary

Weather Forecast

Friday, expect cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Ppt Trace. Alp High -12 C. Light N gusting to 35 Saturday. Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alp Low -24 C, High -15 C. Ridge wind east: 10 km/h.FzL VB.Mountain weather forecast available at Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack is faceted creating a weak slab over a faint, inconsistent layer of surface hoar/facets on a crust down 40cm. The thicker snowpack spots have a strong mid-pack bridging the deep persistent basal weakness of depth hoar. Thinner snow-pack zones are much less consolidated and can act as a slab triggering the basal depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

Field team reporting dry loose from steep Alpine terrain and thin (5cm), but present soft wind effect at immediate ridge top; reactive to skis but not alarming or hazardous. 2600m near Cataract Pass in the Columbia Icefields region. No other reports of new avalanche activity.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

The sun will act as a trigger to initiate the loose unconsolidated surface snow particularly in steep rocky terrain near and above ice climbs.

Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain..If triggered dry loose point releases can form deeper deposits in terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

It is possible to trigger deep slabs in shallow snowpack areas. Terrain management and assessment is critical to a safe day.

Be cautious in shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Minimize exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of an avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 22nd, 2019 4:00PM