Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 9 – 10, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Large features without previous activity remain a concern, it is still possible to trigger very large avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Moderate SW winds and warming temps continue to add to the windslab problem.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    The Dec. 11th layer of facets and surface hoar is buried more than a meter deep. This layer is strengthening but was active during the recent storm.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–4
    The base of the snowpack is weak and facetted in shallow areas and will likely be for some time. The new snow in combination with a skier has the potential to overload this weakness.

Weather Forecast

The ridge of high pressure is replaced as a Pacific low moves inland today, with warmer air and snow flurries for Wednesday and Thursday.Wednesday: Cloudy with flurries (up to 6cm accumulation). Alp High -4C, Low -6C. Moderate  SW ridge wind, freezing level 1600m.A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate winds building fresh windslabs at ridgetop. Up to 85cm of snow fell between Jan 2-4. This overlies previous widespread wind effect from strong to extreme SW winds (many exposed areas were scoured to ground). The Dec. 11th layer persists mid-snowpack. The basal snowpack is weak in shallow areas - many recent avalanches failed on the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Continued reports to the south of human and explosive triggered large avalanches.Jan 5th helicopter control produced numerous large-very large avalanches. One very large avalanche on Sunset pk. buried the Parkway and destroyed 10-20 hectares of mature timber.A natural cycle of numerous large to very large avalanches occurred Jan 3rd and 4th.

Confidence

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