Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 17 – 18, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Finally some snow!!!  Good weather on Sunday and Monday will be tempting.  Resist the urge to jump into big lines until the new snow has had a chance to settle. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3
    There will be increasing load on the persistent slabs now buried by 15-20 cm on new snow.  There is a greater possibility that storm snow avalanches may be enough to trigger the persistent slab layer deeper in the snowpack.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Up to 20 cm of new snow will fall by Sunday afternoon.  Moderate W to NW winds will be building slab conditions.  These new storm slabs are sitting on smooth hard slab.  The bonding between these layers is uncertain.

Weather Forecast

Snow will end late on Sunday morning with up to 20 cm possible.  Skies will clear in the afternoon, Northerly winds will drop and temperatures will fall.  Family Day Monday will be mostly clear with light winds and seasonable temperatures

Snowpack Summary

Soft windslab are developing on Easterly alpine and treeline slopes with continuing snow and moderate West winds.  These new slabs are sitting on hard slab and sastrugi.  The now buried hard slab is bridging weak basal facets.  10 cm+ new snow is sitting on sun crusts and facets below treeline.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanche observations due to snow and low clouds on Saturday.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Regions covered