Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Jasper National Park
Strong winds and new snow are building fresh windslabs and burying evidence of previous activity. Human triggering remains a serious concern in avalanche start zones that have not had activity in the past week.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Variable winds have created pockets of wind slab on all aspects.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Persistent slabs remain a problem. The main concern is for areas exposed to large triggers such as cornices and large South facing alpine terrain exposed to the sun.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be wary of large alpine slopes that did not previously avalanche.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Avalanche Summary
A couple of fresh slab avalanches (likely failing on a persistent mid snowpack weakness, and up to size 2) were observed by field teams at treeline elevations on Tuesday - likely triggered by significant wind transport and warming temperatures.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm of new snow has been blown in to fresh slabs by moderate to strong SW winds. These wind slabs overlie a settled upper snowpack which is sitting on the persistent weak layers in the mid snowpack. Many slopes had avalanche activity on these weak layers during last weeks storm, slopes without previous activity remain suspect.
Weather Forecast
An upper level northwest (Aleutian) flow is pushing a couple of cold fronts through our area on Wednesday. Up to 10-15cm of snow is forecast, with strong SW switching to light NE winds and seasonal temperatures. Thursday we will see a bit of a break in the precip, and possibly some sun. On Friday more snow is forecast.
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Up to 15cm of new snow is being blown in to fresh windslabs.