Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 21 – 22, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Stable weather forecast with little change in temps and no new snow into the weekend. Keep wary to evidence of localized instability such as cracking, whumphing and, recent avalanche activity.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Sun may act as a trigger to initiate the loose unconsolidated surface snow particularly in steep rocky terrain. Definitely a problem ice climbers should keep on radar where small slides can gain mass particularly in terrain traps.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    It is possible to trigger deep slabs in shallow snowpack areas. Terrain management and assessment is critical to a safe day.

Weather Forecast

Columbia IcefieldsWed - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alp High -12C overnight low -22CC. Ridge wind NE 10-20 km/h.Thu - A mix of sun and cloud. Precip Nil. Alp High -13C. Ridge wind w 10 km/h.A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack is faceted creating a weak slab over a faint, inconsistent layer of surface hoar/facets on a crust down 40cm. The thicker snowpack spots have a strong mid-pack bridging the deep persistent basal weakness of depth hoar. Thinner snow-pack zones are much less consolidated and can act as a slab triggering the basal depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

Field team in the Portal Creek drainage found supportive riding at tree line elevations with progressively less support below tree line.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Regions covered