Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 21 – 22, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Good skiing is being found with up to 15cm of new snow over a supportive crust.

The weak layers under this crust are still a concern, especially in steep and shallow or rocky features, so evaluate your terrain of choice carefully.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Loose dry avalanches likely won't be much of a hazard unless they push you into or off a terrain trap.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom of the snowpack. This is a low probability but high consequence problem. Stay away from weak, rocky, shallow location where triggering this layer is more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry avalanches up to size 1 were reported by Marmot Basin avalanche control teams on Wednesday.

No new avalanches were observed by a field team in the Icefields area on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

About 10cm of new snow fell onto a 2-5cm melt freeze crust on Wednesday. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.

Light ridge wind.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -9 °C.

Ridge wind east: 10 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Regions covered