Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 17th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Loose Wet, Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Highway 93N and Maligne road will be closed for Avalanche Control until Tuesday. Check Alberta 511 for details and updates.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: Overnight Sunday, Low: -4, High 4C.Ridge wind light with some gusts.Freezing levels will rise as high as 2200 metres; up to 2800 metres on Monday, and forecasted to over 3000m from Tuesday, through the rest of the week.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow treeline and below and the alpine is heavily wind effected. Deep snowpack areas are relatively strong through most of the region. Shallow areas are weak, and will morph quickly to moist 'spring like' slab conditions from the surface down. With the persistent basal weakness, this could fail with the full depth of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches on solar aspects at all elevations. These will continue to entrain the surrounding snow and could potentially get very large.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

Watch out for any sunny, steep features. Expecting some recovery to the surface freeze, overnight Sunday. Progressively rising hazard over the day.

Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Fresh wind slabs sit on a variety of old surfaces. Winds continue to gust at light to moderate values from the SW.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

Potential for triggering will increase significantly over the week as the temperatures seep into the snowpack. If triggered, it's expected to be very large, running full path.

Minimize exposure to steep slopes on warm or sunny days.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 18th, 2019 4:00PM