Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Jasper National Park
A cycle of small, Loose Wet Avalanches was the result of the temperature inversion, clear skies and calm winds today. The temperatures look to remain warm for the next two days at least.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
- Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Sunday's cycle of these will likely result in crust limiting the further potential of this problem however temperatures seem a bit uncertain and if the sun is out again, it is worth taking note.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.
- If triggered the loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 3: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
The recent snow was redistributed into thin, spotty slabs in exposed areas. These slabs sit on freshly buried, weak facets and surface hoar in some areas. Triggering one of these slabs may provide enough load to trigger the deeper persistent slab.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
Avalanche Summary
A cycle of loose wet avalanches started on steep south slopes at midday and followed the sun onto West slopes into the mid afternoon. The inversion, calm winds, and strong sun all factored into these events which originated as high as 2900m and ran up to sz 2 in confined features. Only one slab was observed to be triggered by all of this activity.
Snowpack Summary
10-15cm of recent snow has blown into thin slabs TL and above. Old slabs, 10-40cm deeper, sit on a weak layer of facets or surface hoar TL and above. In sheltered areas the new snow sits a weak,faceted upper snowpack at all elevations. A strong mid snowpack crust is providing strength but is weakening. The lower snowpack continues to lose strength.
Weather Forecast
Pacific air will continue to override cooler air in the valleys producing a temperature inversion through to Tuesday. Winds should remain light from the SW through Monday until late in the day Tuesday when they will increase and potentially bring some light flurries or rain.
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Pockets of old, buried slab are found in exposed areas. These sit on weak, faceted snow that lacks strength, and may fail, to mid-pack depths. Treat all wind exposed areas with care but approach larger, uniform features and thin areas with caution.