Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
New snow and cooler temperatures should provide for some decent skiing over the weekend.Moderate rating for tree line mostly due to expected increased sensitivity of newly formed wind slabs.
Weather Forecast
 Saturday:Flurries.Accumulation: 7 cm.Alpine temperature: High -6 °C.Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday:Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.Accumulation: 4 cm.Alpine temperature: Low -23 °C, High -10 °C.Light ridge wind.Freezing level at valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
New wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line from past weeks winds and incremental precipitation. Weak temperature crust up to 1900m and solar crust on solar aspects up to 2800m. December facets down 20-70cm, showing signs of rounding within bulleting region. Basal facets & depth hoar present throughout area up to 30 cm off the ground.
Avalanche Summary
Icefields patrol noticed few small wet loose slides at lower elevations, running within the new snow on Friday.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Sensitivity and consequence of this new slab may be increasing with incremental loading. These slabs are sitting on previous hard surfaces (old wind slabs, temperature and sun crusts).
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Persistent slabs present above 1950m as a buried facet layer down 20-40cm is the primary concern, however there has been a lack of natural avalanche activity on this layer in the recent days.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 3