Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 5 – 6, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

At these temperatures even a minor injury could have severe consequences, plan your day accordingly.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5
    Up to 50cm of recent snow followed by strong winds has built thick slabs well into the terrain.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5
    Expect sluffing out of steep rocky terrain when the sun is on it.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    New snow with strong winds recently overloaded the deep persistent weakness.

Weather Forecast

A strong ridge of high pressure dominates the North & Central Rockies until Wednesday, dragging cold air down from Alaska. Tuesday: Sunny with cloudy periods developing in the PM. Low of -23 C and High of -18 C with light winds from the North.A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

50cm recent storm snow came with strong Northerly winds. This storm snow overloaded the Jan 18 persistent weakness (SH in sheltered areas, crust on exposed solar slopes) in deeper snowpack areas, and the weak and facetted base of the snowpack in shallow areas (deep persistent weakness), resulting in a natural cycle of large avalanche activity.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control work Monday, between the Icefields and Saskatchewan crossing, produced several large (size 2-2.5) persistent and deep persistent slab avalanches.A natural cycle of large slab avalanches occurred during the most recent storm.Help forecast - share observations HERE, on the Mountain Information Network!

Confidence

Regions covered