Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 9 – 10, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warming trend a welcome change. Increasing hazard for Ice Climbers in steep solar aspects. Start early, finish early!

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    A cold, facetting, and structurally weak slab up to 80cm thick overlies faceted crystals (well developed in shallow areas). Low elevations will present as a loose dry avalanche problem.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Late afternoon problem in steep, solar rocky terrain. Found to be entraining the surrounding, facetted snowpack and will build up volume quickly.

Weather Forecast

Spring like warming trend with a distinct south westerly flow. Freezing levels rising to treeline elevations into the weekend. Trace to 10cm of snow overnight Thursday and clearing by Friday afternoon. Strong, gusting westerly winds in the Alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Facetting has weakened the snowpack in isolated areas in the forecast region. Melt freeze cycle BTL with moist surface snow on steeper, rocky solar aspects. The upper snowpack is 50 to 80 cm, over the seasonally persistent instability. Wind effect in open areas in the alpine and treeline elevations.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive assisted, solar induced, loose dry avalanches to sz 1.5 in BTL south and south-west  aspects entraining the facets and running fast.

Confidence

Regions covered