Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
Jasper.
Spring has sprung. An early start, and avoidance during the heat of the day is essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain right now.
Weather Forecast
An upper level ridge remains over our area until mid-week.Monday: Sunny, Alpine High 0, Low -3. Ridge winds Light West. Freezing Level 2300m.Tuesday: Sunny, Alpine High 2, Low -2. Ridge winds Light SW. Freezing level 2600m.Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Snowpack Summary
A melt freeze cycle is in progress at treeline and below. Expect moist surface snow and loose wet avalanches on solar aspects in the afternoon. In open areas in the alpine and at treeline the upper snowpack is generally wind effected. Previous cold temps have left a weak mid and lower snowpack structure in most locations.
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.