Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 13 – 14, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Climbers be aware of the potential for loose dry avalanches from steep, rocky terrain and gully features.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    The Nov crust is down 40-90cm and is beginning to facet out, lose strength and cohesion. There has been recent activity on this layer and requires respect.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Cold temps promoting facetting of upper snow pack. Expect loose dry avalanches from steep terrain.

Weather Forecast

Alpine low of -25 overnight with a daytime high of -18. Thin low level cloud to persist for most of the day with clear skies above. Moderate Northwest winds until Wednesday evening. Slight warming trend toward the end of the week, with mainly clear skies.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing moderate Northwest winds redistributing cold snow, soft slab formation possible on lee features. Arctic cold temps have penetrated the shallow snowpack and are promoting facetting. Nov12 crust down 45 to 90cm and found between 2100-2600m on all aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose dry avalanches on Westerly aspects up to Size 2 in Alpine terrain observed along the Icefields Parkway today. Recent shift of winds to the Northwest seem to have been the trigger for these events.

Confidence

Regions covered