Jasper

Seek out sheltered areas less affected by recent winds. Avalanches in the upper snowpack have the potential to step down to deeper instabilities.

Last week several avalanches were observed along the Churchill Range on east faces in the alpine, up to size 2.5 and running to ground on the deep persistent layer. Some of these avalanches were caused by falling cornices.

Over the weekend the ski hill triggered two size 1.5 deep persistent avalanches with explosives and a small windslab.

A dusting of new snow sits on up the 15cm that fell last week and was redistributed by southwest winds. This wind has loaded lee features, creating windslabs and stripped more exposed areas. In sheltered areas this snow sits on a weak layer of 7mm Surface Hoar.

The mid and lower snow pack has multiple layers of surface hoar in sheltered terrain, melt freeze crusts and facets. Two of these are the deep persistent slab interfaces near the ground.

Monday

Mainly cloudy. Alpine temperature High of -5 °C. Ridge winds from the southwest, 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries (up to 4 cm). Alpine temperature Low of -7 °C, High of -5 °C. Ridge wind from the southwest, 25 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

• Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
• Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.