http://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/bulletins/B87F4A98-830E-4EB0-A084-AEC07B5273B6Avoid avalanche terrain on solar aspects, especially in the late afternoon when the snowpack is at it's weakest.
Weather Forecast
Very strong solar effect, with clear skies forecast all week. Temperatures will remain above freezing overnight and daytime highs will continue to be in the teens on Thursday, with freezing levels over 3000m. Light winds all week.
Snowpack Summary
Spring snowpack on solar aspects, with minimal crust recovery overnight rapidly breaking down under daily intense solar input. The entire snowpack is isothermal below treeline on solar aspects. The snowpack remains dry on shady aspects at upper elevations, but may become reactive with continued warm temps.
Avalanche Summary
No road patrol Wednesday. Numerous large (to size 2.5) natural loose wet avalanches observed on solar aspects at all elevations on Monday and Tuesday. Several large (Size 2-3) natural wet slabs observed on solar slopes on Monday and Tuesday. Explosive control on Monday and Tuesday produced loose wet and wet slab avalanches up to size 2.5.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Wet Slabs
Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.