Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 18th, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

Jonas Hoke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Recent storm snow is settling rapidly, but good skiing can still be found at upper elevations.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Continued light snow late Sunday drying overnight.Monday. Winds shifting to the NW and increasing. Mainly cloudy skies with light flurries possible Tuesday through Wednesday. Winds increasing to moderate west . Freezing levels should remain below 1600m for the period.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of recent dense snow has created storm slabs, these have generally bonded well at treeline and below, but may remain reactive on alpine north aspects. Loose wet slides are a concern below treeline in the late afternoon (particularly if the sun is shining). Facets buried beneath February's multiple windslabs remains a layer worth tracking.

Avalanche Summary

A road patrol on Sunday confirmed that solar aspects treeline and BTL have been producing loose wet avalanches to size 1 for the past 2-3 days. An isolated large avalanche (size 2.5) was observed to have failed on a steep rock slab, on a NE aspect in the alpine (2500m) in the past 2-3 days, the dimensions of this slab were 300m wide by 100cm deep.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday

Problems

Storm Slabs

Fresh storm slabs may sit on a hard melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and facets on polar aspects. Assess the bond at these interfaces carefully before committing to any avalanche start zones.

Use safe ski cutting techniques before entering ski run. Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created storm slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Watch for this to become reactive if the sun comes out.

Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 19th, 2018 4:00PM