Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2017 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Dry and Wind Slabs.

garth lemke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

10-15cm of new snow with North light to moderate winds are adding to the existing problems particularly the loose dry. Highway 93 will be closed from 11-5 on Wednesday for Avalanche control. Check Alberta 511.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Snowfall will taper off Monday night. Tuesday to Thursday will be Light North to Northwest winds gusting Moderate at ridgetop, clear skies, no new snow, and cold temperatures ranging from -18 to -30.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of very light snow on Monday overlies a shallow, faceted and weak snowpack. The Nov. crust can still be found about 30 cm up from ground but is faceting into large depth hoar. The upper half of the snowpack has layers of wind slabs.

Avalanche Summary

No patrol today. Sunday's Icefields patrol noted several 48 hour old size 2.5 slab in cross loaded West aspect gullies and size 1.5 loose dry avalanches on all aspects and elevations. Cold temps have made free hanging ice brittle and they are breaking off.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Problems

Loose Dry

Faceting of the surface snow is causing it to lose cohesion and release loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. 10-15cm of new snow will add to this problem. This is concerning for ice-climbers in confined terrain.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Be very cautious with gully features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Cold temperatures and hard slab conditions make triggering less likely. Triggering from shallow spots or in loaded gullies remains a possibility. Winds shifting from the North will develop new slabs on Southerly slopes.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2017 4:00PM