Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 3 – 4, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Temperatures remain unseasonably warm. When the sun comes out, expect temperatures to spike and increasing the avalanche danger. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2
    Hard windslabs may be triggered from thin snowpack areas.  Thin wind slabs are forming in immediate lee areas above treeline with continued moderate to strong Southwest to Northwest winds.

Weather Forecast

Sunday to Tuesday will be a mix of clouds, sun, and lite flurries. Temperatures will be slightly cooler on Sunday, warmer on Monday, then trending cooler after that. Freezing level will continue to hover around 1500m by mid-day.

Snowpack Summary

Hard wind slabs exist in exposed lee features yet appear to be bridging well. Mid-pack is faceted at lower elevations making for poor travel and difficult trail-breaking. Persistent hard slab and sastrugi widespread above treeline. Thin wind slabs are forming in immediate lee features with continuing moderate to strong SW to NW winds.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday had a couple loose sz 1's at valley bottom Coleman cliffs running to the highway shoulder. This was solar and warm air influenced. On Friday, a large cornice fell on 45+ degree east facing alpine slope and did not trigger any weakness.  No other avalanches were observed on Friday's patrol Parkway, Whistler Creek and Maligne Road.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Regions covered