Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 16 – 17, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Snow and weather conditions are expected to continue changing throughout the day and into tomorrow.

Incoming snow and wind will create new windslabs, avoid open slopes that may have the potential for wide propagation.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Incoming snow and wind will build new windslabs. Many high elevation features could have wind slabs.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3

    A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday road patrol observed few small wind slab avalanches initiating at ridge tops and running as loose dry for short distance. Marmot Basin reported a small natural avalanche scrubbing to ground in the alpine on north aspect, suspected to be triggered out of steep rocky terrain

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is 60-120cm in depth at tree line. Yesterday's moist surface snow to 2300m has refrozen. A weakening melt freeze crust and surface hoar layer from early December remains down 10-30cm. The middle of the snowpack is facetted and there is a deep persistent layer at the base of the snowpack consisting of a decomposing melt freeze crust and depth hoar.

Weather Summary

Thursday

Snow accumulation: 6 cm. Alpine temperature: High -6 °C. Ridge wind west: 30 km/h gusting to 80 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 5 cm. Alpine temperature: High -4 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

Saturday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -21 °C, High -17 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.

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