Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 28 – 29, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

We have been able to move through the mountains cautiously this week at all elevations. Making careful terrain choices, and conservative group management, we've had consistently great skiing on low angled/low consequence north aspect slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Building windslab at tree line and above on lee aspects. It's a continuous problem that requires constant attention in order to ensure your safety and riding quality.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Large cornices on ridge top lee features. Their sheer mass is a problem. Recent cornice failures have been generally small (a few tons or so;) but are consistently triggering large deep persistent slab avalanches in alpine terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    The deep persistent slab can be triggered by travelers from shallow or weak locations or naturally from large loads such as cornice failure or windslab avalanches. On Mar 25, skiers triggered a sz 2.5 in a consistently shallow area at tree line.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy for Wednesday scattered flurries and possibly 5-8cm accumulation through the day and into Thursday. Light SW winds at ridge top forecasted to stay in that range with some gusts. Alpine temperatures warming slightly for highs near -2C.

Snowpack Summary

Creamy and settled surface snow with some wind effect in the open. Near surface non-persistent weaknesses, active on typically problematic features like convexities and immediate lees. Interfaces dwn between 60 and 100cms though the mid-pack with inconsistent mod to hard field test results. All this, sitting on a large, facet layer off the ground.

Avalanche Summary

New snow transport continuing to over-load cornices and immediate lee features making them susceptible to natural triggering.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Regions covered