Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 11 – 12, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Spring has sprung. An early start, and avoidance during the heat of the day is essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain right now.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    As daily temperature swings push further and further in to  the upper snowpack, slab avalanches may occur at several interfaces within the facetted and structurally weak mid and lower snowpack.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Late afternoon problem in steep, solar rocky terrain. Also found to be entraining the surrounding, facetted snowpack and will build up volume and speed quickly.

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.

Avalanche Summary

A loose wet natural avalanche cycle to size 2.0 was observed on a road patrol in the Maligne area on Sunday.  Avalanche control at Marmot Basin on Saturday produced a size 2.0 cornice failure and one size 2.0 windslab avalanche. Report of an avalanche involvement on Kitty Hawk Satruday. Report of an avalanche on Polar Circus Friday.

Confidence

Regions covered