Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Jasper National Park
A complex series of avalanche problems exists, conservative decision making and route selection is necessary.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
- Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Storms slabs continue to be an issues as the recent snow settles. Cooler temperatures over the next few days will help heal this problem.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 3: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
This is a complex problem which is hard to assess and predict. Give yourself a wide margin and make conservative terrain choices. Below treeline this layer is only a concern if you are in a run out zone of a large avalanche path.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanche patrol today. Explosive control work on highway 93 yesterday produced avalanches up to size 2.5. These avalanches released as newly formed wind slabs up to 70cm thick as well as one persistent slab up to 150cm thick releasing on the Halloween crust.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs continue to build in exposed lee features. Storm slabs formed with 40cm of snowfall over the weekend. These problems sit on a recently developed rain crust 30-60cm deep. A persistent slab up to 200cm thick sits on the Halloween Crust, low in the snowpack. This crust can be found up to 2,700m depending on location.
Weather Forecast
A weak ridge builds Wednesday giving a break in the wind and snowfall.
Wednesday: Clear periods and isolated flurries. Trace-5cm of snow. Alpine Low -10 C, High -9 C. Ridge wind moderate gusting strong from the West. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Later in the week a Westerly flow will give alternating waves of flurries and clear periods.
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Sensitive wind slabs building quickly at ridge tops and if triggered, has the potential to step down to the deeper instability.