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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 25th, 2020–Mar 26th, 2020
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Jasper.

Further to the announcement of Parks Canada facility and service closures last week, as of March 25, 2020, Parks Canada will temporarily suspend motor vehicle access to non-essential roadways by visitors.

Weather Forecast

Cooling tonight with a good freeze to the surface layers of the snow. However a warming trend is underway over the next 4 days with limited below treeline snowopack recover as we enter the weekend. During the next 24hrs precipitation amounts will be modest but winds will be strong from the west in the alpine: Mountain weather forecast

Snowpack Summary

The mid snowpack is consolidating providing good bridging strength over the weak base. Sun and temperatures crusts laminate the upper snowpack. At treeline and above watch for thin windslabs over these crusts where bonding may be poor, particularly on solar facing slopes. Cornices loom large and are particularly capricious at this time of year.

Avalanche Summary

Recent activity has been limited  to very few point releases to size 1.5 from steep rocky terrain.  There is significant snow clinging to steep rock faces which when warmed by the sun will rapidly destabilize. Similarly cornices are large and should be considered a looming hazard at all times.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Friday

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

10-15cm of new snow in the past 48 hrs appears to be bonding well to layers below. At ridge tops and on solar slopes, where crusts may be buried, this problem is of most concern.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
  • Minimize exposure to steep slopes on warm or sunny days.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The mid snowpack is consolidating and offers bridging strength over a weak  base. Caution is needed in areas where the snowpack is thin.  Collapsing cornices may trigger this weakness unleashing large avalanches.

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
  • Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to weak layers at the base of the snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5