Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 11 – 12, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warming temperatures will increase the avalanche danger at all elevations over the next  24 hours.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Last week's snow will continue to add to the wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline. Warming temperatures will increase the likelihood of triggering slopes.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    If the sun peaks out, loose avalanches with significant mass may occur. They are initiating out of steep West or South facing high elevation rocks or gullies.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Soft slab conditions  exist on gully sidewalls and some large alpine slopes. Warming temperatures will increase the chance of triggering avalanches at treeline elevations on southerly slopes.

Weather Forecast

Upper elevation winds will be from the SW and be in the strong range. Temperatures will start to increase over the next 48 hours.  Freezing levels will increase to mid treeline by mid Thursday. Snow accumulations may be up to 35cm over the next 3 days with rain at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Fresh snow is forecast over the next 72 hours. At upper elevations this will quickly become slab like as the forecasted strong SW winds transport it onto East and Northeast slopes. At lower elevations warming temperatures will result in moist snow conditions particularly on southerly facing slopes. 

Avalanche Summary

With a rising freezing level, strong winds and up to 35cm of snow the avalanche danger will increase on all aspects and all elevations.  Slab avalanches will dominate the  alpine and windy  treeline locations on NE aspects. At lower elevations the number and frequency of moist and wet point release avalanche will increase over the next 2 or 3 days.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday

Regions covered