Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 29th, 2015 4:00PM

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

tim mcallister, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Low does not mean no avalanches. Keep digging and avoid terrain below large triggers like cornices. Ice climbers be wary of brittle daggers during this cold snap.

Summary

Weather Forecast

High pressure and connected ridge will muscle it's way into region and stay put for the foreseeable future. Winds are forecasted to be light to moderate from the north. Which means no new snow but, with the seasonal temps and sunshine, south aspects will be glorious riding and north aspects will stay nice, dry and cool.

Snowpack Summary

Supportive and well settled snowpack above 1700m. Thin wind slabs in the alpine on the lee side of wind exposed terrain. Snowpack continues to facet with recent cold temperatures losing some overall depth as it drys and settles. The base of the snowpack is weakening from the cold but thus far the mid-pack is still bridging this growing weakness.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported or observed.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs can be expected to be most developed in the alpine and open tree-line ridge tops.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Avoid steep slopes below cornices.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The facetting process is weakening the mid-pack from the top down and bottom up. This situation would make it possible to trigger the weakness at the base of the snowpack as the support underfoot shrinks. Watch for this in shallower areas.

Be cautious in shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.