Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 10 – 11, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Watch out for building wind slabs and cornices.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Moderate - strong W winds and warming temps continue to add to the wind slab problem.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    The Dec. 11th layer of facets and surface hoar is buried more than a meter deep. This layer is strengthening but was active during the recent storm.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–4
    The base of the snowpack is weak and facetted in shallow areas and will likely be for some time. The new snow in combination with a skier has the potential to overload this weakness.

Weather Forecast

A "dirty" ridge of high pressure is bringing light precip to Jasper. A strong ridge then builds, bringing clear skies and warm temps for the rest of the week. Thursday: Cloudy with flurries (10cm). Alp High -5C, Low -6C. Moderate to strong W ridge wind, freezing level 1600m.A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong winds and 10cm of forecast snow will be building fresh wind slabs at ridge top. The snow from last week is settling into a cohesive layer overlying previous widespread wind effect, the Dec. 11th layer in the mid-snowpack and a weak facet layer on the ground in shallow areas - many recent avalanches failed on the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Continued reports to the south of natural triggered large avalanches.Jan 5th helicopter control produced numerous large-very large avalanches. One very large avalanche on Sunset peak buried the 93N and destroyed 14 hectares of mature timber.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

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