Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 13th, 2019 4:00PM

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

timothy johnson, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Avalanches still can happen on specific terrain features at Moderate hazard. Choose your terrain wisely.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A westerly flow continues and a much weaker front will track through bringing light precip, gusting west winds and rising freezing levels for Thur and Fri. Columbia Icefields Region:Thursday: Mainly Cloudy with isolated flurries, Treeline High Temp: -8. Ridge winds southwest 15km/h gusting 50km/h

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs in the alpine and treeline on N-E aspects. Previous old surfaces were; loose facets in sheltered terrain; wind affected in exposed areas; and, sun crust to treeline on solar aspects. The mid/lower snowpack is relatively strong for the region in deeper snowpack areas, and weak and facetted in shallow snowpack areas.

Avalanche Summary

A group of skiers triggered a large windslab avalanche in the backcountry near Marmot Basin Tuesday.A widespread cycle of small-large loose dry avalanches occurred Monday night during the snow and wind storm - these started small, but scrubbed down in to the facets.Several large windslab avalanches on alpine NE aspects also ran during the storm.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Problems

Loose Dry

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

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

Fresh windslabs sit on a variety of old surfaces, these will take several days to settle and stabilize.

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

Valid until: Mar 14th, 2019 4:00PM