Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 10 – 11, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Cooler temperatures will help to stabilize treeline and below treeline conditions on Thursday.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Cornices are big.  Minimize your exposure time beneath them and staying well back from wind exposed ridge crests.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    10 cm of storm snow accompanied by strong SW winds have built stiff slab conditions on the smooth sliding surface formed by previous temperature crusts on lee treeline and alpine slopes.

Weather Forecast

Light flurries will continue on Thursday with little in the way of accumulation expected.  Moderate to strong SW winds will continue slab development below ridgelines.  Temperatures will be cooler.  More snow, possibly heavy at times, may fall on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Despite rain and above freezing temperatures, the melt freeze crust remained intact at treeline.  This crust provides stability above a wet and unconsolidated snowpack. Stiff windslabs have formed on a smooth temperature crust below ridgelines on north to north east facing slopes treeline and in the alpine. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed in the Maligne or Icefields areas.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered