Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 14 – 15, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Snow continues overnight and through the day Sunday. Best riding is on sheltered areas at Treeline. Avoid traveling or stopping under large slopes or corniced features as they may be sensitive to triggering.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Overloaded and under tension, new and buried windslab in the Alpine and TL will be sensitive to further loads, like more wind, more snow, and riders.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    Large cornices noted in all areas of the bulletin region.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    A slab up to 1m thick overlies: weak faceted crystals (well developed in shallow areas), surface hoar (at, and just above treeline), and sun crusts (on steep S and W aspects). Faceting has reduced slab strength below treeline and in shallow areas.

Weather Forecast

Scattered and localized flurries will continue overnight and through the day Sunday. Accumulations may be as much as 4cm overnight and a further 10cm over the day. At lower elevations (under 2200m) expect wet flurries or rain in the afternoon. Winds are expected to shift to the east, remaining light with moderate gusts at ridge top.

Snowpack Summary

14cm HST overnight, with varied localized amounts as unsettled weather continues. Moderate SW winds have certainly overloaded wind slabs and cornices in open areas in the ALP. Persistent instabilities (down 40 to 100 cm) are already sensitive to large triggers like cornices, especially on N asp slopes at TL and ALP elevations.

Avalanche Summary

Road patrols in Maligne and Icefields regions. Very little natural slab activity seen in both regions. It was noted that cornices look huge. Numerous small loose wet slides observed at low elevations and solar asp, up to 2500m. Great information being shared daily on Avalanche Canada's MIN Reports for the Maligne, Whistler's Creek and Ice regions. 

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

Regions covered