Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 25 – 26, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

The avalanche danger is moving into the extreme ranger over the next few days. With limited overnight freezing forecasted,  anticipate the danger to remain in the high range into the late evening.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–3
    All cornices should be considered unstable a this time. Stay away from them and away from terrain below them. Rising temperatures are causing cornices to fall triggering slopes below. Give them a wide berth.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    With warm temperatures and solar radiation these events are likely to increase over the next few days from all aspects in the sun. Good triggers are falling sections of cornices. These events can run far into the valley below

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    No overnight crust formation is expected at treeline and above. With most of the snowpack below 1,900m being isothermal expect these avalanches to start early on solar slopes at all elevations.

Weather Forecast

Very warm temperatures are forecasted with freezing levels extending high into the alpine, 3,700m. Virtually no overnight recovery of the snowpack is expected once out of the valley bottom. An inversion may make for better AM travel in the valley bottom. Pack your sun block.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow extends to treeline on all but the most Northerly slopes. On Southerly slopes this continues into the alpine. Persistent slabs can be found on most aspects at treeline and above. These have been reactive to large triggers like cornice failures. Below 1,900m the snowpack is going isothermal on a daily basis.

Avalanche Summary

The spring avalanche cycle will be in full swing over the next few days. Large and destructive avalanche can be expected from all elevations and running far into the valley bottom. Without an overnight freeze forecasted these events will start early, perhaps before midday.

Confidence

Regions covered