Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 15th, 2019–Mar 16th, 2019

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be high

Regions: Jasper.

Avalanche hazard will rise with the temperature and freezing levels.

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

Avalanche 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