Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 21st, 2017–Feb 22nd, 2017

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Jasper.

Don't be fooled by the lack of recent natural avalanche activity. The stiffer upper snowpack is sitting on a weak and faceted base. Back-country travelers can trigger large avalanches from a distance and below avalanche paths.

Weather Forecast

Sun and cloud with light flurries the next few days. Temperatures are cooling slightly into the -12 to -16 range. Winds light from SW shifting Northerly on Wednesday. Light flurries through the week with minimal accumulation.

Snowpack Summary

25cm new snow and warm temperatures last week at the Columbia Icefields with 35km/hr SW winds built a windslab at TL and ALP. A rain crust exists below 1900m. The dense upper snowpack overlies a weak faceted lower pack making for unpredictable and dangerous avalanche conditions.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday several size 2-3 avalanches were remote triggered by skiers a significant distance away in the McCarib Pass area. Several avalanches to Sz 3 occurred Saturday along the Parkway with one dusting the highway from Mt. Wilson. Widespread whumphing and shooting cracks were noted in the Whistler creek area on all elevations.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Wednesday

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Widespread whumphing and shooting cracks in previously un-skied terrain. Recent natural activity and remote triggering of this weakness resulted in avalanches up to size 3 failing on the weak faceted snowpack.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Previous 25cm snow and moderate SW winds have added to the windslab problem in the alpine and open tree-line features.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3