Avalanche forecast

Jasper

May 5 – 6, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Spring conditions exist. Warm temperatures, poor overnight freezing and intense solar radiation will combine to produce avalanche activity on hot afternoons. Avoid overhead cornice hazards and finish your trip early in the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    A significant amount of snow fell in the area during the last week of April and was distributed by winds onto lees aspects.  Expect to see slab avalanches from windloaded terrain on hot afternoons.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Large cornices are looming. On failure, deep releases may run far into the valley bottom.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Warm temperatures and strong solar effect are creating loose wet avalanches that may go full depth and travel a long distance. Avoid large open slopes on hot afternoons.

Weather Forecast

Spring conditions exist with a weak frozen crust in the morning that will break down sometime in the day as the temperatures rise and solar radiation increases.  Warm  temperatures will cause poor overnight recovery with only a light freeze. This will progress as the days get longer and the nights get warmer.

Snowpack Summary

The 40cm of snow that fell last week in the Icefields area has been blown into windslabs below easterly alpine ridgelines. On Southerly aspects, this new snow is becoming wet and is sliding on a buried suncrust. Relatively warm overnight temperatures are limiting the development of a supportive crust.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche patrol has taken place.  With warmer temperatures and poor overnight recovery,  afternoon avalanche activity is expected on solar aspects and the occasional slab release from isolated windloaded terrain.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Regions covered