Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Nov 14 – 15, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Winter has arrived with the first large storm.  Use caution until the snowpack has had time to settle  out.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
    45cm of new snow at 2000m and above. Point releases from cliffs and steep smooth surfaces.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    45 cm of storm snow in the past 24hr in the Icefields area has fallen on a shallow early season older snowpack of facets, crusts and possibly surface hoar. A class 2 was seen near the Weeping Wall.

Weather Forecast

Overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning another 20cm of new snow is forecast. Winds will decrease and shift from the west to south. The freezing level will drop to 1000 m.

Snowpack Summary

Snow depths are highly variable between elevation ranges and East to West across the region. Greater depths can be found in the Columbia Icefields area. During the past 24hrs 45cm of new snow has effectively doubling the snowpack. Moderate to strong ridge top westerly winds are building soft slabs on top of a faceted and shallow previous snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

The new snow and winds has created an avalanche cycle at treeline and above. Below treeline snow depths are very shallow. Soft slab avalanches can be triggered close to treeline up to size 2. Large avalanches are likely higher in the alpine. Point release avalanches can be expected from cliffs and running into the timber along gulley features

Confidence

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

Regions covered