Avalanche forecast

Jasper

May 1, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow may hide previously obvious windslabs on solar aspects. Facets and upper snowpack crusts persist on all aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Slabs lee to previous N winds may still fail on a persistent interface (facets over a suncrust) down 15-40cm.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Cool temperatures mean little change for this problem; triggering remains possible in the alpine. Crusts in the upper snowpack, and deeper facet layers warrant further investigation.

Weather Forecast

Snowfall arriving. Forecast models disagree on amounts(5-35cm by the weekend), but align more on winds (light-moderate Westerlies) and freezing levels.

Weds: Cloud, light snow developing. Freezing level 1600m, treeline high -4, light-mod Westerlies.

Thur: Overnight snow eases to flurries. Freezing Level 1900m, Treeline High -2. Light winds.

Snowpack Summary

Wind Slabs lee to N winds linger over sun crusts on solar aspects in the alpine, and in wind-prone treeline areas. Low density cold snow remains in wind/sun sheltered terrain, particularly in Easterly ranges and near the Icefields. A buried facet layer on shady alpine slopes remains a concern; giving easy/sudden test results just SW of our region.

Avalanche Summary

No patrol Tuesday.  To the South of our region (Bow Summit), 2 large (size 2 - 2.5) persistent slabs were remotely triggered on alpine SW aspects Tuesday.  On Sunday, 1 Large (sz 2.5) Persistent slab was observed in the Maligne Range on an East aspect, in convex alpine terrain.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Regions covered