Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 19 – 20, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

While the colder temperatures should reduce natural avalanches, the recent wind slabs developed over the basal facets has the potential to make remote triggering an avalanche in the alpine likely.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Winds continue to build slabs on the lee aspects near ridgetops and on the lee side of terrain features at treeline and above. Anything line that has enough snow to ski on and is steep enough to slide should be evaluated for wind slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The persistent slab consists of an October 27 raincrust with facets developing above and below it. It is sporadic in distribution, but even a small avalanche could step down to ground.

Weather Forecast

Colder temperatures will occur into the weekend with sunny periods on Thursday. Sporadic snow flurries will return for Friday and through the weekend with increasing snowfalls coming early next week. the colder temperatures should lock the snowpack in.

Snowpack Summary

Strong, turbulent winds continue to add to the variable snow distribution at treeline and above. Wind slabs are developing in lee terrain features. These windslabs sit above the October 27 raincrust with weak basal facets at the bottom of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A size 1.5 slab occurred today at 1800m on a slope with a primarily Easterly aspect. This was a thin windslab over basal facets and ran to ground. Colder temperatures should lock the snowpack in for the short term. While there is variable snow distribution on the landscape, there is still potential for slab avalanches to occur in isolated terrain.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered