Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 11th, 2018 4:00PM

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

max darrah, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Travel in avalanche terrain that has not seen previous activity is not recommended. While natural triggering has slowed, it is still advisable to avoid overhead hazard during the heat of the day.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures remaining cool, but have the potential to reach fluctuate significantly over the course of the day. Minimal snowfall expected, light winds, and clear skies to continue through to midweek.

Snowpack Summary

Varied storm snow amts: 10-15cm in the Icefields, 40cm near Mt Wilson, and 30cm north of Beauty creek is sitting on the weak and facetted persistent slab at mid snowpack. Reverse loading from a northerly flow has cross-loaded Alpine features.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has tapered, but we could still see some natural activity in the afternoons from solar triggering.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Up to 45cm of HST fell through the forecast area. Winds during the storm were from the SW but switched to North Easterly on Sunday.

Variable winds have created pockets of wind slab on all aspects.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs remain a problem. The main concern is for areas exposed to large triggers such as cornices and large South facing alpine terrain exposed to the sun.

Be wary of large alpine slopes that did not previously avalanche.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Feb 12th, 2018 4:00PM