Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 5 – 6, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Heavy, wet and dense snow throughout the forecast region. Check Alberta 511 for highways updates.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Up to 45cm of fresh snow, warm temperatures and moderate to strong SW winds are creating widespread touchy windslabs and storm slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    The new snow has added to the load on the Dec 11th weak interface. Buried more than a meter deep in some locations, this layer is strengthening but has been reactive in shallow snowpack areas recently.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–4
    The base of the snowpack is weak and facetted. In shallow snowpack areas the new snow will likely overload this weakness.

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperature: High -6 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 45cm of snow has fallen along the 93N. Moderate-strong SW winds have built fresh wind slabs in open terrain and storm slabs in sheltered areas. Expect natural avalanche activity with the rapid loading. The Dec. 11th layer (surface hoar and facets) persists down 60-150cm, and continues to produce avalanches in shallow snowpack areas.

Avalanche Summary

Snow, and poor visibility made travel and observations difficult. Evidence of a large natural cycle continuing for the weekend.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered