Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 8 – 9, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Some of the signs of instability are tapering off, but we expect human triggered avalanches are still likely at Treeline and above.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    If triggered, the new wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    A varied slab sits over the December 17th facet layer. This problem is most significant in open tree line features and in the alpine where you can expect a stiffer, likely more reactive slab.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in the last two days.

If you're out in the hills, don't forget to post to the MIN. Every bit of information helps!

Snowpack Summary

A few centimeters of new snow around the icefields is now covering a widespread layer of surface hoar and a rain crust up to 1900m. Previous moderate to strong SW winds have formed thin wind slabs in lee features. The Dec 17th persistent weak layer is down 20-40cm in sheltered areas and remains a major concern, especially in wind loaded areas where thicker slabs are present. This all sits on the weak facets and depth hoar that make up the bottom half of the snowpack.

Click here to learn more about these tricky conditions.

Weather Summary

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10-30 km/h.

Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Monday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -5 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Tuesday

Cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Regions covered