Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 13th, 2018–Mar 14th, 2018

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Jasper.

Highway 93 south of Jasper to Saskatchewan crossing and the Maligne road remain closed for avalanche control

Weather Forecast

Strong high pressure with southern warm air will continue to Wednesday evening with freezing levels close to 3000m and strong solar effect throughout the forecast zone. Wednesday night/Thursday brings cloud cover and more seasonable temperatures with light flurries, a change that persists into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Our structurally weak snowpack is slowly warming under spring-like temps and strong solar radiation. Settlement and sintering is occurring in the upper snowpack with warmer temps and melt-freeze crusts forming on steep solar slopes. Mid and lower snowpack weaknesses persist but tend to be reactive only on alpine solar facing slopes.

Avalanche Summary

Warm temps and rising freezing levels are resulting in loose dry avalanches at upper elevations and loose wet avalanches on solar slopes below treeline. Avalanches below treeline are to size 2. Alpine slopes have also released as slabs to midpack and have entrained snow up to size 2.5, but have potential to size 3.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Loose Wet

solar aspects and elevations below the freezing level

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.Cornices become weak with daytime heating.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Loose Dry

More shaded aspects and elevations above the freezing level.

Avoid ice climbs that are in terrain traps below large start zones.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

Rising freezing levels and large triggers like smaller avalanches may wake up deeper slab instabilities

Be wary of large alpine slopes that did not previously avalanche.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3