Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 21 – 22, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Still not the time to ski big lines despite Moderate rating. Lots of variability across the landscape with a lurking basal weakness. Shallow locations are the likely trigger spots. Human triggered avalanches are possible on specific terrain features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Wind slabs of variable thickness and hardness dot the landscape. Many windpressed and stripped features will be encountered once you leave the shelter of the trees. Triggering this could dig down to the basal facets increasing the consequence.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The basal facets are weaker below tree line. Where the snow is deeper at higher elevations, the mid-pack bridges the weak basal facets; however, snowpack depth varies so much that its hard to inspire confidence in stability.

Weather Forecast

Mostly dry the next few days with possibly very light snow Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures will range from -3°C in the afternoons to -12°C at night. Light winds from the WSW on Mon night into Tuesday diminishing to calm by Wed morning.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack below treeline is 85cm deep, low density snow with a 20-40cm stiffer midpack over weak basal facets. It remains the weakest of our elevation bands as not much bridges the basal facets. Above TL, snowpack ranges from 10 to 130cm where a thicker midpack bridges the basal facets. Variable wind slabs present with the previous aggressive winds.

Avalanche Summary

Natural activity has tapered off. Thursday's control work on the Icefields Parkway yielded large avalanches to size 3 on all alpine aspects releasing on either the storm snow interface or on basal facets.

Confidence

Regions covered