Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
Weather Forecast
Up to 15cm of new snow is forecast for upper elevation in the next 24 hours. At lower elevations this will fall as rain up to midnight then turning to snow. Freezing levels will increase to treeline. Winds will be highly variable ranging from light and NE in the East to strong and Westerly in the Icefields area.
Snowpack Summary
Soft slabs are forming in the Alpine under the influence of moderate to strong Westerly winds. 30cm of new snow has fallen in the past 24 hours in the Columbia Icefields area. At Treeline soft slabs exist in isolated terrain near ridges. On solar slopes, at Treeline and below this snow is sitting over a crust which is up to 5cm thick.
Avalanche Summary
Poor visibility and flat light has obscured observations from the alpine but numerous piles of avalanche debris have been observed in runouts along highway 93. This indicates that an avalanche cycle is underway with numerous size 2 or 2.5 avalanches occurring in the alpine. At lower elevations loose point releases of size 1 were observed.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Friday
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Loose Dry
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2