Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 22 – 23, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
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Highlights

A warming trend over the next two days may increase the reactivity of cornices and deep persistent slabs.

Be mindful of your overhead hazard and avoid terrain features capable of producing large avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    With increasing daytime temperatures and sun effect mature cornices have a potential to trigger the lingering deep persistent slab below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Freezing level is expected to rise to 2200m on Sunday and Monday.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4

    The bottom of the snowpack is inherently weak with well-developed Facets and Depth Hoar.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday , 2 natural large deep persistent slab avalanches were observed by the Icefields road patrol, both on east aspect in the alpine triggered by a cornice failure.

Maligne road patrol saw no new natural avalanche activity on Friday.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Sun crusts on solar aspects with a melt-freeze crust below tree line. Old wind slab in exposed alpine terrain.

A weak layer of sun crust or facets lingers in the mid-pack but the main concern is the depth hoar and basal facets at the bottom of the snowpack causing our deep persistent slab problem.

Weather Summary

Sunday Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High 0 °C.

Light ridge wind occasionally gusting 30 km/h.

Freezing level: 2200 m

Monday A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -3 °C, High 2 °C.

Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.

Freezing level: 2400 m

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -3 °C, High -1 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 2100 m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Regions covered