Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 16 – 17, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Good skiing  at Parker Ridge in sheltered locations

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Uniform wind slab has formed on most lee alpine and tree line slopes and cross-loaded features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    This problem was most active in the Maligne and surrounding Jasper area where the average snow pack is shallow but is proving much less active in the Columbia Icefield area.

Weather Forecast

Cool temperatures with gust strong W ridge top winds into friday. Expect snowfall to spotty but may be intense for a short periods of time. Sunny breaks can be expected with freezing levels rising to 1200m on Friday and 1500m over the weekend. Cold overnight temperature over the next two days will maintain the supportive crusts at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is generally shallow and poorly consolidated, significant variation exists within the forecasting area. Test results in Portal Crk , 15th, showed mod-hard results dwn 60cm on facets 2-3mm with a sudden fracture character. This layer could be hard to trigger but could go big if it was. Windslab in the alpine and suncrust below Treeline.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Regions covered