Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 19 – 20, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Large cornices are very unstable and can trigger big avalanches if they fall. Avoid all terrain below cornices

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Moderate SW winds have built windslabs on alpine lee slopes. If triggered, these could step down to the deep persistent slab resulting in large avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The snowpack will warm during the day with rain, at lower elevations, and solar radiation at all elevations. As the change occurs the danger will increase from low in the morning, in the valley bottom, to considerable by mid or late afternoon.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–4
    The deep instability could be triggered by large loads such as a cornice failure or a surface avalanche. Human triggering is most likely from shallow spots or on steep unsupported slopes.

Weather Forecast

Freezing Levels will descend to 1,200m near town providing good overnight snowpack freezing at treeline and above. Sunshine during the morning followed by rain, at lower elevations, will soften and weaken the snowpack in the valley bottom. Up to 7cm of  snow is forecast. The freezing level will rise to 2,150m and winds will be SW light to moderate.

Snowpack Summary

9cm of snow within the past 48 hrs with moderate SW winds building slab on lee alpine ridge lines. Melt freeze crust up to 2000m. Dryer surface snow on northerly aspects, above 2000m,  over a solid mid-pack bridging the weak base. The bottom of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar mixed around the Nov rain crust.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Friday

Regions covered