Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 2 – 3, 2020Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Stay out of avalanche terrain!

The Icefields Parkway and the Maligne Lake road are closed until avalanche control efforts can be completed. Check 511.alberta.ca/ for updates.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–4

    Up to 40 cm in last 24 hrs with Mod SW winds. We should see widespread avalanche activity at all elevation with large avalanches running full path. 

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–4

    It is very likely that this new and heavy snow load will overload this weakness and we will see avalanches running to ground on this layer. No one should be entering avalanche terrain at this time!

Weather Forecast

Sunday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace amount of snow, -16 °C, and Southwest winds 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Monday will be similar to Sunday.

See Weather synopsis here: Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

40cm or more snow arrived in the storm in the past 24 hours with strong winds and warm temperatures. Expect thick storm slabs over the facetted midpack and weak basal facets and depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

A patrol to North end of Medicine lake noted several low elevation loose wet avalanches along Medicine slabs. The team's morning patrol on the Parkway only got to the Icefields center where the snow was too deep to proceed. Visibility was poor and it was a blizzard.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Regions covered