Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 23rd, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.

rupert wedgwood, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Keep to lower angle slopes in sheltered locations to find good snow and safer terrain. Avoid being below corniced slopes and cliffs.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A series of lows move inland from the coast under a SW flow provide moisture for convective flurries and gusting strong winds. Arctic air to the North keep temps cool allowing for overnight recovery. Snow flurries at upper elevations may yield up to 10cm of fresh snow. This will be quickly transported from upper elevations by strong winds.

Snowpack Summary

Gusting strong South and Westerly winds continue to build wind slabs over a mid March weak interface. In places this may be 60cm down or deeper. These wind slabs have been more reactive on cooler, shaded aspects where they formed on previously faceted surfaces. Cornices are growing and may trigger larger avalanches from the terrain below.

Avalanche Summary

A group in at the Fryatt reported a size 1.5 thin windslab on an East aspect in the alpine on Thursday. Today slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed in the Columbia Icefields area form wind loaded alpine terrain. One was triggered by a cornice failure and the other by continued loading from the ongoing strong gusting winds.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs sit on a hard melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and facets on polar aspects. Shaded slopes have been more reactive. Assess the bond at these interfaces carefully before committing to avalanche start zones.

The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Cornices

Recent and ongoing strong gusting alpine winds continues to build cornices with evidence of recent failures on Friday

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 24th, 2018 4:00PM