Heavy snowfall and strong winds have caused avalanche danger to soar in Jasper National Park.
According to the government Avalanche Bulletin, "High", very dangerous avalanche conditions are at the alpine and treeline levels in the park. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended as natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely.
Below the treeline, the avalanche conditions are "Considerable".
Today (Friday, January 3) the mountains could see 12 centimetres of snow and a further 26cm is expected over the weekend.
The Avalanche Bulletin lists three problems: Storm slabs, deep persistent slabs and dry loose.
"An avalanche initiated in this storm snow may step down and test our deeper weak layers," said the report.
"If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches."
Deep persistent slabs at all three elevations (below treeline, treeline and alpine) could be triggered by large loads or from thin spots in the snowpack.
"This problem seems more pronounced at treeline where whumphing and cracks have been observed," said the report.
