Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Dec 23 – 24, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Early season hazards lurk just under the surface. Quality skiing is difficult to locate.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Recent turbulent winds  have redistributed snow into sheltered terrain features. Anything that is steep enough to slide and has sufficient snow to ski on should be evaluated.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The Oct 27 raincrust has a sporadic distribution. An avalanche on this layer could still step down to ground and have severe consequences.

Weather Forecast

Flurries will continue this week. Possibly 5-10cm on Monday if we are lucky. Winds may increase to moderate from SW. Temperatures will remain seasonal ranging from -5 to -16. It may feel much warmer in the valley bottoms.

Snowpack Summary

Variable snow distribution at treeline and above. Wind slabs continue to develop in lee terrain features. Wind slab and a mainly facetted snowpack overlies October 27 rain crust which is distributed sporadically through the forecast area. Basal facets and depth hoar exist just off the ground.  Below treeline remains unsupportive.

Avalanche Summary

Sunday observed several size 2's, likely solar initiated, on the crossloaded gullies above Polar Circus on Mt Cirrus. They stopped mid-path. Saturday, we observed 2 size 3 avalanches on east facing cross-loaded alpine bowl near Mt. Saskatchewan/Wilson area, 2 size 2.5 on a similar aspect in the Winston Churchill range.

Confidence

Regions covered