Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 19th, 2016 4:16PM

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

Max Darrah, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Cooling temperatures and clear skies will make for great ice climbing conditions. Continue to be vigilant for windslabs lurking in recently loaded terrain such as gullies and ridge crests - human triggered avalanches are still possible.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cooling trend through the weekend, with freezing levels dropping to 900m with good recovery overnight with lows of -15C. Clear skies through the weekend with light to moderate Southwest winds. No new snow on the horizon until Sunday night, with only light flurries amounting to less than 5cm.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate SW winds have built wind slab at tree-line and above. These slabs may be up to 40cm thick. The mid-pack consists of buried wind and persistent slab with a failure plane down 60cms. In the valley bottom the snowpack is very week and unconsolidated making for tough trail breaking.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated loose dry slides to size 2.5 were observed out of steep rocky rocky terrain on solar aspects in the alpine on Friday.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Windslabs appear to be bonding well, however caution is still warranted in immediate lees and cross loaded terrain above treeline.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Previously formed slabs now comprise the upper and mid-pack in many locations. Natural and human triggered avalanches are possible.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 20th, 2016 4:00PM