Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Mar 12 – 13, 2017Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Safe, excellent riding conditions can be found in conservative terrain. Watch for changing conditions next few days if day time temperatures warm more than they are forecasted.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    SW winds creating slabs on lee and pressing snow on windward aspects. May be overtop decomposed SH layer on CR 30cm down on South TL aspects.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Persistent mid-pack slab condition continuing to surprise but not the good kind of surprise! Like triggering an unseen overhead feature; Surprise!

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Natural activity has subsided but don't let your guard down. It remains a major concern with a extremely weak base of depth hoar. Trigger spots would be shallow zones or a step down effect if upper layers are initiated.

Weather Forecast

30-40km/hr SW winds around the townsite Monday, +9 and flurries. Icefields will be -3 to -6 Monday to Tuesday with potentially spiking warm temperatures on Wednesday. Flurries will continue Monday to Wednesday being possible rain on Wednesday. Winds will be steady 20-30km/hr out of SW. 

Snowpack Summary

Light to Moderate southerly winds transporting and pressing recent snow into a slab in open areas at TL and above. This sits on a persistently weak interface 20 to 45cm down. A weak but slowly improving mid-pack is just supportive enough for travel below treeline. Basal layer of weak facets, depth hoar, and an ice crust from November.

Avalanche Summary

Sunday's Maligne patrol observed no new avalanches. Saturday's Icefield's patrol observed no new avalanches but it was poor visibility. March 11 report from skiers of a remotely triggering from a treeline location 300m into the alpine two size 2.5's 1.5m thick and 35m wide. They ran to bottom of the path.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Regions covered