Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
!Solar aspects are of most concern!Loose wet should be on your mind at tree line and below. While committing to tree line and steep alpine, carefully assess for sun crust below.Polar aspects have a lot of fun turns to offer.
Weather Forecast
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -4 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h. Freezing level: 1800 metres.
Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -7 °C, High -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.
Snowpack Summary
HST of 10-30cm of new snow becoming moist TL and below on solar aspects. Shifting winds forming isolated wind slabs at TL and ALP. The snowpack shows good bonding in field tests in deeper snowpack areas, shallow snowpack regions such as Whistler/Portal and Bald Hills have bigger a potential for weak layers to wake up and are more complex to assess.
Avalanche Summary
Sunday patrol in the Icefields region observed several small loose wet at TL and below on steep solar aspects. Few storm slabs observed up to size 2 on solar aspects at TL where suspected sun crust from March 19th is more developed. 1 large size 3 cornice triggered slab avalanche seen on Churchil Range, this avalanche ran on deeper instabilities.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New and building wind slabs can be found in lee features near ridge crests, and cross-loaded gullies.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially in steep confined alpine terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Expect loose wet avalanches, especially in the heat of the day. Solar aspects TL and below are suspect.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
When in the Whistlers/Portal and Maligne Regions identify and assess the bond at this mid-pack layer. This interface shows strength in field tests, but there is concern for wide, spatial variability over large and/or connected features.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3