Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 30 – 31, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Icefields Parkway will remain closed overnight Saturday. Check Alberta-511 for details.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    The new snow has come with strong winds at all elevations. Avoid overhead avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–3
    The new snow will fall on to settle snow from last week. Below this the interface with the old snow surface, buried up to a meter deep, is strengthening however, large triggers such as cornices have produced several releases recently.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    The base of the snowpack is weak and facetted. Likely trigger locations are around rocks, where cold air can penetrate to the base of the snowpack, and shallow snowpack locations.

Weather Forecast

New snow totaling 25cm has fallen over the day, tapering off overnight. Sunday, convective flurries are expected to add a further 10-12cm. Strong winds will continue into early next week.  A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

26cm of new storm snow getting transported aggressively by moderate to strong SW winds.

Avalanche Summary

Poor visibility through the Icefields and Wilson areas due to snow and strong winds. Evidence of a large avalanche cycle in the southern end of the bulletin region where snowfall amounts higher than forecasted. 

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered