Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 18 – 19, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Solar triggering of the storm snow is possible with prolonged periods of sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Up to 20 cm of new snow fell in the last storm. Moderate NW winds are pressing the new snow into soft slabs and building thin soft windslab on immediate lee features. These new storm slabs are sitting on smooth hard slab and sastrugi. 

Weather Forecast

Monday will be mainly dry, variable clouds and light North winds with cold air.  Tuesday, a weak pulse of 2-4 of new snow, the freezing level will rise to 1100 m and winds will remain light from the North.

Snowpack Summary

20 cm of storm snow are developing soft windslab on SE alpine and treeline slopes from moderate NW winds.  These new slabs are sitting on previous hard slab and sastrugi.  They appear to be bonding well.  The now buried hard slab is bridging weak basal facets.  15 cm of storm snow is sitting on sun crusts and facets below treeline.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of small slab avalanches (size 1.5) involving the new storm snow were observe Sunday morning on steep NE facing treeline slopes in the Parkers Ridge area.  No other avalanches were observed along the Icefields Parkway.  Visibility was excellent.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Monday

Regions covered