Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2015 4:00PM

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

mike eder, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Stable forecast for the next few days but caution if the sun shows on solar aspects.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Snow flurries expected into Wednesday with up to 10 cm to arrive for Friday and more through the weekend.Â A system will move through the forecast area bringing strong SW winds at the mountaintops (3000 m elevation) on Thursday moving any snow onto the lee aspects in Saskatchewan.

Snowpack Summary

The Dec 20 facet/surface hoar layer that was proving very sensitive appears to be bonding well to the crust below. Warming trend through Wednesday is still expected and should further settle the snowpack. The snowpack is still highly variable throughout the region ranging from rotten facetted areas to a good, well settled snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported. Overcast skies will prevent the solar effect that was originally expected for the area in the alpine.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Wednesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Windslabs are easy to spot with no new snow as they appear hard and are often convoluted.

Due to the lack of snowcover, patches of windslab will stand out and be easy to recognize.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Though this layer is unreactive to skier traffic it could be triggered with a large load such as a cornice or a step down from another avalanche.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2015 4:00PM