Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 17 – 18, 2013Parks Canada

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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri

Sat

Alpine

2 · Moderate

Treeline

1 · Low

Below

1 · Low

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Highlights

Daytime warming will increase the probability of cornice failures and avalanches. Skiing is good with dust on crust.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely - Possible
Size
1–3
Windslabs can be found on lee aspects in exposed terrain around ridgecrests. Where these slabs sit on previous crusts, the likelihood of a skier triggered avalanche increases especially as the day heats up or the sun comes out.
Cornices
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely - Possible
Size
2–3
Cornices are large and a hazard by their sheer mass. They have the potential to trigger deeper layers.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1–2
The frequency of moist point releases increases with daytime warming and sun particularly on steep solar aspects.

Weather Forecast

Thursday through to Saturday will have scattered flurries and minimal precipitation accumulation. The freezing level should reach 2000m by the afternoon with the possibility of it only going as low as 1600m on Thursday evening. A small pulse of snow is possible Thursday evening. Temperatures will cool Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs exist on lee aspects of exposed ridgecrests above treeline with a dusting of snow overtop. There are buried temperature crusts below 2100m and sun crusts on steep solar aspects at various elevations. Cornices are big. Overall the snowpack is solid underfoot. Below 1800m the snow is getting thinner and melting fast.

Avalanche Summary

Several moist size 2 point releases on solar aspects linked to daytime warming. A couple of semi-recent large cornice drops with no avalanches initiated below have been observed.

Confidence

Regions covered

Jasper