Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Nov 29 – 30, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avoid steep open slopes on lee aspects as a stiffened slab could release above on the deep weak layers. Avoid ice climbs with any large features like ice daggers or steep snow loaded features. Let the snow settle and temps even out for a few days.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
    These slides are starting small high up in the rocks and sweeping the gullies clean. Ice climbers need to avoid climbs in gully features for the next few days.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    The storm slabs should tighten up with the cooler temperatures, but use caution when choosing your lines as an avalanche could be started from a shallow location.

Weather Forecast

Snowfall will taper through Friday night bringing clear skies and cold temperatures for the weekend under an arctic air mass. Clouds will begin to develop by Monday, but no real precipitation is expected for the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

An extra 50cm has fallen overnight to add to the 70cm of snow which had fallen in the alpine at the start of the storm. Moderate to strong winds started from the SW at the beginning of the storm are now shifting to the Northerly directions as the arctic air moves in. The storm snow overlies a weak snowpack consisting of rain crusts and facets.

Avalanche Summary

Slab avalanches to size 2.5 were observed at treeline and alpine in the icefields area on Northeast aspects. Loose avalanches to size 2 are occurring at all elevations and aspects. Steep cutbanks and side slopes below treeline are releasing as small slab avalanches.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Sunday

Regions covered