Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

A structurally weak snowpack may make travel in uncompacted terrain difficult, especially below treeline. The persistent mid-pack weakness can still be found at or near treeline, but has not been reactive for some time.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Over the next 36 hours, local snowfall amounts, and relentless N winds are both expected to remain light. It will stay cold with overnight lows in the Icefields/Maligne regions near -20 but, it feels tolerably warm on solar aspects during the day.

Snowpack Summary

Much of the regional snowpack is losing support and, facetting after two weeks of cold, dry weather. Wind slabs and extensive wind effect is found in all open areas. The upper snowpack is a 50 to 80 cm weakening slab, over the seasonally persistent instability.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed or reported.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Expect hard windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. The cold has reduced the probability for long propagations but caution is still warranted on exposed terrain features.

Best conditions found on sheltered aspects.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

A cold, facetting, and structurally weak slab up to 80cm thick overlies: faceted crystals (well developed in shallow areas), surface hoar (at, and just above treeline), and sun crusts (on steep S and W aspects).

Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2018 4:00PM