Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 15th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Wet and Loose Dry.

Timothy Johnson, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Avalanche hazard will rise with the temperature and freezing levels.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure is bringing the heat for the weekend and into next week. Watch for freezing levels to rise.For the Columbia Icefield Area:Saturday Cloudy with sunny periods.Precipitation: Nil.Treeline temperature: High -4 C.Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow treeline and below and the alpine is heavily wind effected. Deep snowpack areas are relatively strong through most of the region. Shallow areas are weak, and will morph quickly to moist 'spring like' slab conditions from the surface down. With the persistent basal weakness, this could fail with the full depth of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday several loose wet avalanches on steep, solar, rocky below treeline features and a windslab avalanche in the alpine on a cross-loaded south feature at 2500m Tuesday a group of skiers triggered a wind slab in the backcountry behind Marmot Basin. It was on a north alpine aspect with shallow snowpack, scree ground, and severely wind affected.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Fresh wind slabs sit on a variety of old surfaces. Winds continue to gust moderate from the SW.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Wet

Watch out for steep rocky features.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Dry

Natural triggering has abated but human triggering remains a possibility, particularly in steep north facing sheltered terrain.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.Minimize exposure to steep, planar slopes.

Aspects: North, North East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 16th, 2019 4:00PM