Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 7 – 8, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche control along the Icefields Parkway  on Sunday produced results up to size 3. The new will require some time to stabilize, choose simple terrain that is well supported. Be vigilant if the sun comes out where it can wake up the new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Increased loading on this layer from the recent storm snow has produced a number of releases up to size 3. Triggering is mostly likely from shallower locations around rocky terrain.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    40cm of storm snow is forming a soft slab at treeline and above. It will remain reactive to triggering for the next few days. Where stronger winds in the alpine have transported the snow it may be up to 60cm thick.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Increased loading above this layer from the recent storm snow has produced a number of releases up to size 3. These are mostly from the alpine and treeline elevations and are running down to the valley bottoms.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday and Wednesday will be -12 to -16, 25km/hr SW to S winds, and flurries. Thursday and Friday will be a deep freeze down to -24 with light East winds. 

Snowpack Summary

45cm of storm snow from Friday and Saturday arrived with light and some moderate southerly winds. It continues to settle into a soft slab at treeline and above. The mid and lower snowpack is structurally weak, the base of which is 5mm depth hoar crystals and a deteriorating rain crust.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control work on Sunday produced up to sz 3, some stepping down to deep persistent layers or to the ground where weak facets and depth hoar exist. Natural activity was most prevalent in the alpine and similar to the control work, was stepping down, resulting in deep releases, sz 2-3. Sun came out today resulting in some natural activity.

Confidence

Regions covered