Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Jasper National Park
Persistent midpack weaknesses are more pronounced in the northern portion of the forecast zone, with human triggering more likely than the Icefields area.
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.
- The best powder will be found in sheltered locations at or below treeline.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Whumpfing and cracking are signs of this layer's reactivity. Expect collapses to propagate larger distances with a wind-stiffened snow surface.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
Avalanche Problem 3: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Persistent slabs remain a problem. Areas exposed to large triggers such as cornices or smaller avalanches / sloughing from above are most likely to trigger this midpack weakness.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche
Avalanche Summary
Isolated windslab avalanches were observed today in the Icefields area and loose dry avalanches to size 2 were observed in the Tonquin valley. East, South, and North aspects have formed windslabs and large cornices that have failed in the last 48 hrs in the north portion of the forecast zone.
Snowpack Summary
Available snow has been redistributed by strong, variable direction winds. In sheltered Treeline locations, the weak midpack layers are reactive down 50cm. Where snow remains in the Alpine, new wind slabs are reactive to triggering from additional load or solar, and wind-stiffened snow at Treeline is transmitting collapses large distances.
Weather Forecast
Flurries are expected overnight but with little accumulation resulting as a cold arctic front starts to sweep SW from the icy NE. Clearing expected Sunday and into next week with sunshine and cold nights.
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Variable direction, strong upper elevation winds are continuing to create fresh windslabs and stiffen the snow surface well into Treeline locations.