Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 11 – 12, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The Icefields could receive up to 25cm of new snow in the next 24 hours.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    Evidence from recent snowpack tests and whumphing would suggest that a weak layer of facets persists down 20-50cm in some areas, and may be becoming reactive with incremental loading from recent small snowfalls.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Large Sluffs have been observed out of steep alpine terrain from the recent incremental snowfalls.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Up to 20cm of snow is forecasted for the Icefields region Thursday night and into Friday morning. (Very little snow is forecasted for the Maligne and Tonquin areas)

Weather Forecast

Some weather models are calling up to 20cm of snow overnight in the Parkers Ridge area and dramatically less further north in the Tonquin and Maligne Ranges. Freezing levels forecast as a dirunal cycle with overnight freezes in the valleys and to rise to 1800m during the days. Overall unsettled convective spring weather with light variable winds.

Snowpack Summary

A supportive crust exists to 2,100m near treeline. Higher up, at treeline and above, a winter snowpack remains on N aspects . Solar facing slopes have crusts extending higher into the alpine. At upper elevation a weak faceted layer buried down 20-50cm remains of concern. The snowpack sits on a weak base of facets and depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

No new slab avalanches have been observed although signs of cornice failures up to size 2 have been reported

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered