Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 19 – 20, 2020Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

As we exit the deep freeze we can expect to see an increase in natural activity. Caution with exposure to over head terrain as sluffs can run far and fast.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    New wind slabs forming on easterly aspects at ridgetop along with cornice growth. Buried wind slabs on all aspects in the alpine could become more reactive as temperatures warm.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Up to 15cm new snow not bonding well to previous surface. As temps warm expect continued dry loose sluffs out of steep terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    The recent cold weather has promoted facetting and weakening of the snowpack compromising the bridging strength. Potential for triggering these deeper layers could increase as temperatures warm.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will continue to warm over the next few days. Winds will become westerly and increase to Strong values by Monday evening.

Sunday: 7cm of snow expected by evening with Freezing levels at Valley bottom. High -6

Monday: Trace amounts of snow High -6 Freezing levels rising to 1500M

For more info: Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Continued faceting of snowpack. Up to 15cm of new light dry snow is not bonding well to the upper settled pack. This overlies a weakening mid-pack comprised of varied facet forms. This provides some questionable bridging over the basal facets and DH. HS average at TL: ~145cm.

Avalanche Summary

An ice dagger collapse off of the ice climb Curtain Call produced a size 1.5 failing on ground.

Confidence

Regions covered