Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 19th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
DK,
Avalanche Canada
Ice Climbers: What's over your head?
Warm temps over the next few days will make thin, early-season ice even weaker.
Watch for isolated slabs, loose dry, and sluffs in consequential terrain.
Riders: If you find the snowpack supportive, you are on a slab over weak facets, it's not a great combo.
Best bet for safe turns, try the ski hill.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Following a weak weather system from Monday, there is ~10cm of low density, well redistributed in open terrain around the Icefields. The whole area looks to be in rough shape. Snowballing observed below 2000m on solar slopes. Some loose dry was observed during the day Tuesday from ledges at Weeping Wall.
Weather Summary
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud. No precip. Alpine High: -2 °C. Light ridgetop winds, south.
Freezing level: 1900 metres. Warm temps. at low elevations. Especially around Jasper townsite.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong to extreme southwesterly winds created a few wind slab layers over the last week. Limited natural activity has been observed.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
No natural activity observed. Keep this on your radar as triggering remains possible with the shallow nature of the overall snowpack. This problem is of most concern in wind loaded alpine features, specifically below ridge tops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 20th, 2023 4:00PM
