Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 21 – 22, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Monitor the expected storm arrival and freezing levels Tuesday afternoon. Rain can tip the scales quickly.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Overnight recovery of the melt freeze crust is occurring but less so every day. Expect loose wet slides by mid-day especially if the day is warm and rain occurs. Gauge the amount of overnight freeze as to how quickly it can destabilize.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    No recent activity on this layer; however, triggering remains possible from thin rocky areas on loaded features.

Weather Forecast

Flurries Monday night with less overnight freeze than previous. Tuesday will bring a storm in the afternoon, freezing levels 2000m or higher, and SE winds. Models are not agreeing as to precipitation amounts Tuesday and Wednesday but expect rain below 2000m. The storm may be more intense around the Icefields and Saskatchewan crossing.

Snowpack Summary

The crust remains intact except for the steepest solar facing aspects below tree-line. The snowpack remains moist below this crust. Higher elevations, the snowpack has a solid mid-pack over a faceted base. Cornices are large and ominous. Watch for a storm slab problem developing on Wednesday with this current surface crust being a weak interface.

Avalanche Summary

One size 1 isothermal slide noted along Maligne lake road at 1500m elevation. No new avalanches noted in the Icefields area.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Tuesday

Regions covered