Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 20 – 21, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

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.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Progressively rising hazard over the day. Expect natural and human triggered loose wet avalanches on all sunny slopes, especially where steeper than 35 degrees. These are gouging to ground in thin areas.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    As the upper snowpack becomes saturated with water, Wet Slabs are failing on solar aspects. In shallow areas, these are failing on the basal layers.

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.

Confidence

Regions covered