Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 22nd, 2018 4:00PM

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

jonas hoke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

If forecast snow materializes, the skiing could be quite good heading in to the weekend. Be cautious as you transition into wind effected terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A costal low from northern Californian tracks NE and converges with arctic air North of our region. This will present as an up-slope storm resulting in snow (up to 10 cm Thursday night and an additional 5 cm Friday) with gusting Southerly wind and cooling temps. Overnight alpine temps will be -9, and will remain cool on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow coming in with moderate-strong southerly winds will continue to add to the previous wind slab problem in lee features at treeline and above. These wind slabs have been more reactive on cooler, shaded aspects where they formed on previously faceted surfaces.

Avalanche Summary

A group in at the Fryatt reported a size 1.5 thin windslab on an East aspect in the alpine on Thursday. On Tuesday a road patrol observed a thin slab avalanche that had run size 2 from steep terrain at 2400m on a shaded aspect near Parker Ridge, and a field team triggered a size 1.5 wind slab avalanche on moderate terrain on Mt. Kitchener at 3100m.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs sit on a hard melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and facets on polar aspects. Shaded slopes have been more reactive. Assess the bond at these interfaces carefully before committing to avalanche start zones.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 23rd, 2018 4:00PM