Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 8 – 9, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Good skiing can be found on north aspects.  Solar triggering is possible on all steep south aspects in the Alpine.  Ice climbers take heed.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Solar triggering of loose dry avalanches is occurring in steep terrain. The entraining snow may have the volume to knock ice climbers off their stances. 

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Solar triggering is possible on steep south facing slopes creating large full path avalanches.

Weather Forecast

Continued warm temperatures at treeline and above with sunny skies and light NW winds as the inversion continues through Friday.  A gradually cooling trend into the weekend is forecast as the warm air mixes and descends to the valley bottom. 

Snowpack Summary

There is a well settled snowpack in most locations.  A 30 - 70 cm persistent slab overlies a significant crust (Nov.23). Bonding appears to be strengthening at this interface. The Halloween crust sits near the bottom of the snowpack from treeline to 2700 m.

Avalanche Summary

There were numerous dry loose avalanches (size 1-2), along the Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake Road on steep solar aspects, running to treeline today.  A large size 3 slab avalanche was observed in the Icefields this afternoon on a steep South facing slope that ran on the Halloween Crust to treeline.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Friday

Regions covered