Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 4 – 5, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Found creamy turns in sheltered areas below tree-line. Busy Saturday on Parkway Ice-climbs. Keep vigilant to building overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Open lee slopes featuring new and possibly very reactive wind-slabs. Best to avoid traveling through these features.

Weather Forecast

Everything seems to be headed on a downward trend. Strong and extreme sw winds subsiding, snow tapering off (<10cm) and, temperatures dropping to arctic values (overnight values near -20).

Snowpack Summary

Variable winds and snow squalls though the Parkers area adding further load and snow for transport. Touchy wind slabs 50+cm on some open features at TL and above. Trump crust (Nov 12) is exposed in open Alpine features on the windward side and down 40 to 70cms or more in the lee. As usual, strong temperature gradient promoting facetting.

Avalanche Summary

Field team in Parkers and Hilda area on Saturday. Still seeing long shooting cracks in front of skis. Limited alpine observations due to poor visibility. Some evidence of a mid storm cycle.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Regions covered