Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 25 – 26, 2015Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Stay on mild terrain and avoid lee aspects and terrain features at treeline. Periodic closures on Hwy 93 in the Icefields area will take place between 1000 hrs and 1500 hrs for up to 2 hours. Please adjust your travel plans accordingly.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    The weak layer of surface hoar and facets from December can still be found and may become susceptible to triggering with new snow load. A skier accidental size 2.5 occurred starting from low angle terrain (27 degrees) on a NE aspect at treeline.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Strong SW winds continue to scour open slopes and redistribute that snow into wind slabs on lee aspects and cross loaded features. This extra load combined with a skier could be sufficient to initiate an avalanche

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Steep and shallow areas below TL will likely get saturated and lose support underfoot. Avoid consequential areas where heavy wet slides may push you over or into terrain traps. Low elevation ice climbs will be prone to wet sluffs and wet climbing.

Weather Forecast

Forecast models have reduced the amount of precipitation that is expected on Sunday and for the remainder of the storm. However the freezing level will rise as high as 1800m through the night as the next pulse comes through. This equates to some heavy snow that will deposit around treeline. Expect steady, Strong SW winds in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Below 2000ms will see an infusion of rain and/or wet snow. With a highly variable snowpack in the region, expect this to overload lingering instabilities like the Dec 20 interface, down 15 to 40cm. Scoured open slopes in the alpine will likely stay scoured as these systems move through. Sheltered areas may see up to 20cm accumulation.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2.5 slab avalanche occurred today in the Parker ridge area by a skier.  This happened on a NE aspect at treeline. Below treeline, there were numerous size 0.5 to 1 loose snow avalanches going to ground as a result of the overnight rainfall. Many of these locations had less than 20cm of snow on the slope.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday

Regions covered