Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 23rd, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet and Wet Slabs.

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

A weak melt freeze crust on nearly all aspects except for true north at TL and above. Dry snow will require some hunting for those still keen to ride.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Weather forecasts have been somewhat inconsistent in temperatures, cooling rate and precip. What is definitive is that we will see the cooling trend continue with increasing cloud cover for Sunday. Broken skies and freezing level to rise to 1900m.

Snowpack Summary

Wet surface snow (top 10cm) on all aspects below 1800m. Temperatures start to cool on Saturday evening and you can expect a weak melt freeze crust where snow was previously moist; this may break-down BTL over the day Sunday. The snowpack has remained dry on shady aspects on higher elevations and may be best chance at good riding in the short term.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity observed by a field team in the Icefields. A rock slide, small in overall volume but larger individual rocks reported Saturday morning by plow crews in the Parkers area is a sign of the deeper defrosting happening in the region. Anything interesting this weekend? Share with the community on the CAA Mountain Information Network

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Loose Wet

An isothermal snowpack exists at all elevations on solar aspects. This will need time to cool and settle before becoming truly trustworthy and natural, and especially human triggering is still possible in the meantime.

Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.

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

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Wet Slabs

Cooling should reduce the likelihood of wet slab avalanches but remain possible, especially if the sun comes out.

Avoid exposure to overhead solar avalanche terrain, avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.If triggered loose wet sloughs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 24th, 2019 4:00PM