Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 14 – 15, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Temperatures are continually rising throughout the weekend. This will be the first significant change for over a month. This warming trend has the potential to trigger the first spring avalanche cycle

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5
    Fresh windslabs sit on a variety of old surfaces. Winds continue to gust moderate from the SW.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5
    Natural triggering has abated but human triggering remains a possibility, particularly in steep sheltered terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs located in the alp and TL on N to E aspects. The snowpack is relatively strong through most of the region especially in deep snowpack areas. Shallow areas are weak, and will morph quickly to moist 'spring like' slab conditions from the surface down. With the persistent basal weakness, this could fail with the full depth of the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Friday will be sun and cloud, no precipitation, Alpine high of -7 C, and 15-35km/hr West winds. Saturday will be clouds with sunny periods and flurries, trace precipitation, low -10 high -5, light West winds, and freezing level 1600m.

Avalanche Summary

On March 12th, a group of skiers triggered a wind slab in the backcountry behind Marmot Basin in Whistler creek locally known as Ed's Alley. It was on a North Alpine Aspect with shallow snowpack, scree ground, and severely wind affected.Several large wind slab avalanches on alpine NE aspects ran Monday after a weak storm.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Sunday

Regions covered