Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2014 4:00PM

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

rupert wedgwood, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Solar radiation may trigger avalanches which are unanticipated by shivering ice climbers in the valley below.

Summary

Weather Forecast

No new snow is forecast before the weekend. Temperatures will remain very cold and cooling further overnight to the -30C range at the icefields. Solar radiation will warm south facing slopes and add to the inversion which is already well established. Winds are generally light from the north and west.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is well settled with a very supportive mid-pack above 1,900m. Within this elevation range a concerning weakness can be found consisting on surface hoar and or facetted grains. This may be found 30-70cm down. Currently a failure is hard to trigger. Solar facing slops below 1,900m are melting and a suncrust is forming.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches were observed or reported. Visibility was excellent under blue skies. Solar radiation may trigger avalanches which are unanticipated by shivering ice climbers below.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Thursday

Problems

Wind Slabs

At higher elevations wind slabs will be more abundant and thicker, similarly in cross winded valleys existing glacial terrain. The Feb 10th weakness has recently been found down 20-70cm between 2,200m-2,400m, but is hard to trigger.

The best powder will be found in sheltered locations at or below treeline.Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

We have seen very few avalanches from this layer in the past 2 weeks. A strong midpack , when present, prevents triggering from all but the largest loads. Where the snowpack is shallow triggering will be considerably easier.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Avoid steep slopes below cornices.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2014 4:00PM