Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 15 – 16, 2016Parks Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Intense ridge top transport occurred Tuesday in the alpine. The Northwesterly wind will likely produce some new windslabs particularly on Southerly aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Report of a remotely triggered size 1.5 windslab from Monday. Intense ridgetop transport and scouring from North winds observed on Tuesday's field trip in the Icefield area likely producing some new windslabs in the alpine.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    The Nov crust is down 40-90cm and is beginning to facet out, lose strength and cohesion. There has been recent activity on this layer and requires respect. Consequences would be severe if triggered.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Cold temps promoting facetting of upper snow pack causing it to loose internal cohesion. Expect loose dry avalanches from steep terrain.

Weather Forecast

Thursday and Friday temperatures will hover between -20 to -30 with light North winds and clear skies. No precipitation expected for sometime. It might start to warm up on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Tuesday's moderate Northwest winds redistributed snow with soft slab formation possible on lee features. There was intense ridge top transport from the North in the alpine on Tuesday. Cold temps are promoting facetting throughout the snowpack. Nov12 crust down 45 to 90cm and found between 2100-2600m on all aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new noted on Wednesday's road patrol. Visibility was good. Tuesday numerous loose dry avalanches on Westerly aspects up to Size 2 in Alpine terrain along the Icefields Parkway. One remotely triggered slab avalanche size1.5 was reported from the Boundary Glacier area on Monday, 2400m steep East facing planar slope.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

Regions covered