Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Feb 8 – 9, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Up to 30cm of snow forecasted starting on Thursday with warming temperatures and strong Southwest winds. If this precipitation materializes, expect natural avalanche activity and touchy new windslabs, particularly at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Moderate NE winds have transported 10cm of storm snow onto south westerly slopes building windslab. These new slabs will bond poorly. Last week's slab from M to S winds are still suspect. Big open features and cross-loaded gulleys should be avoided.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    10cm of storm snow over facets can be easily triggered and grow quickly by entraining surrounding snow especially in gulley features.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night will see another low pressure system move in, bringing ~20cm of snow by Thursday night, warmer temps (alpine high of -8) with strong SW winds.

Snowpack Summary

10cm of storm snow (past 72hrs) with light-moderate NE winds have loaded Southerly aspects. Surface faceting and surface hoar (Feb 3) has been buried creating a weak interface in the upper snowpack. Poor bonding between these layers is expected. The mid-pack is facetted and weak with depth hoar at its base.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations or reports today.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

Regions covered