Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Jasper National Park
A weak and variable snowpack (from recent strong winds and cold temps) warrants a cautious approach.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Previous wind effect will be difficult to assess under new snow. Expect hardslabs in the alpine and at treeline. The cold has reduced the tension in these but caution is still warranted, especially as new snow arrives over the next few days.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper facet layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Best conditions on sheltered northerly aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Isolated large Na avalanches were observed on a road patrol Wednesday, one windslab from a cross loaded pocket on a W aspect, and one persistent slab on an E aspect. Otherwise there has been minimal activity since the extensive avalanche cycle on February 8-9. Slopes that did not avalanche during this cycle should still be carefully assessed.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs and extensive wind effect found in all open areas. Recent warm temps and solar effect have likely created a crust on solar aspects at below treeline. The upper snowpack is a 50 to 80 cm thick slab that sits on three weak layers in the mid-pack. The entire snowpack is faceted after two weeks of cold, dry weather.
Weather Forecast
An arctic front approaches from the NE and moves south over the forecast region producing snow flurries and cooler temps.
Friday: Cloudy with flurries (up to 5 cm). Alpine Low -16 C, High -7 C. Ridge wind light S.
Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine Low -18 °C, High -10 °C. Ridge wind light NE.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Avalanche Bulletin - Jasper National Park URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/jasper.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
A slab up to 80cm thick overlies: weak faceted crystals (well developed in shallow areas), surface hoar (at, and just above treeline), and sun crusts ( on steep S and W aspects). Faceting has reduced slab strength below treeline and in shallow areas.