Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2022–Mar 2nd, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

New snow, winds, and rising temperatures have increased the avalanche danger. Keep it conservative until colder temperatures have arrived and the snowpack has had time to settle to the new load.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday:

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -4 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10-20 km/h.

Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Thursday:

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -12 C, High -5 C.

Light ridge wind.

Freezing level: 1500 metres.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of new snow around the Parker Ridge area in the last 48hrs. Moderate SW winds are building fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Freezing levels are around 2100m. A crust below the top 25-40cm of snow is decomposing and can be found below 2500m. There is a weak facet snow layer at the bottom of the snowpack, this is widespread throughout the park.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry avalanches were observed off steep rocky features on Tuesday. One small natural wind slab observed on a steep rocky open tree line slope on Monday.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.