Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 1 – 2, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Recent storm snow and strong winds have created fresh windslabs in exposed areas, particularly at treeline and above. Field teams measured some of these slabs at 90cm thick and displaying touchy results in snow profiles and stability tests.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Triggering is likely in steep terrain. Thursdays' new snow added to this problem in many locations.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    30 cm of storm snow from Thursday continues to build into a slab overlying a weak facetted snowpack or decomposed surface hoar layer.

Weather Forecast

Cool temperatures, with freezing levels remaining below 1100m for next 3 days. Light Southwest wind, gusting to moderate. Light scattered flurries amounting to less than 5cm.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm fell in the Icefields area on Thursday with moderate SW winds building touchy soft slabs on lee slopes at tree line and above. It rained at lower elevations making for a potential rain crust surface. This new snow rests on either a decomposed surface hoar layer that has formed the last few weeks or a facetted unconsolidated snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday natural activity noted up to size 3 running relatively far on a variety of aspects mainly in alpine. Explosive work was mixed results with sluff's to soft slabs up to size 2.5 on the range of aspects and elevations. On Friday, a skier accidental at Parkers Ridge, size 3, 1 involvement, no injuries. Depth 10-240cm x 400m x 400m.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered