Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 10 – 11, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avalanche Control along the Icefields Parkway is planned for Friday 1100 - 1700, expect delays.Strong winds and 20cm+ of snow have created dangerous avalanche conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Moderate SW winds building windslab with recent storm snow and expected to bond poorly.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The Jan 17 interface or deeper layers might be woken up with the forecasted heavy snowfall and would result in large avalanches.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Forecasted storm snow (~30cm) will fall over a poorly bonded, weak snow pack. Small sluffs have potential to entrain a lot of mass and grow in size quickly.

Weather Forecast

12cm of storm snow has fallen today with another 20cm forecasted by the end of Friday. Winds will be moderate from the SW, gusting to strong. Alpine temps to reach a high of -8.

Snowpack Summary

Light to moderate SW winds are building soft slab at treeline and above. The upper pack has several surface hoar and facet layers which will be layers of concern with the incoming storm. The mid-pack is facetted and weak, with depth hoar at its base.

Avalanche Summary

No road patrol today. Snowfall amounts adding up throughout the day.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered