Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 5 – 6, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A structurally weak snowpack may make travel in uncompacted terrain difficult, especially below treeline. The persistent mid-pack weakness can still be found at or near treeline, but has not been reactive for some time.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Expect hard windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. The cold has reduced the probability for long propagations but caution is still warranted on exposed terrain features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    A cold, facetting, and structurally weak slab up to 80cm thick overlies: faceted crystals (well developed in shallow areas), surface hoar (at, and just above treeline), and sun crusts (on steep S and W aspects).

Weather Forecast

Over the next 36 hours, local snowfall amounts, and relentless N winds are both expected to remain light. It will stay cold with overnight lows in the Icefields/Maligne regions near -20 but, it feels tolerably warm on solar aspects during the day.

Snowpack Summary

Much of the regional snowpack is losing support and, facetting after two weeks of cold, dry weather. Wind slabs and extensive wind effect is found in all open areas. The upper snowpack is a 50 to 80 cm weakening slab, over the seasonally persistent instability.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed or reported.

Confidence

Regions covered