Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2022–Feb 6th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

Warming trend and increased solar input could wake up weak layers within the snowpack on Sunday.While the winds continue to scour the alpine, look out for loose wet avalanches below tree line on solar aspects in the afternoon.

Weather Forecast

Sunday:

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday:

Flurries.

Accumulation: 7 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 75 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy wind effect at tree line and above. Snowpack is facetted and complex. December facet layers down 20-40cm still reactive in tests; buried surface hoar found in isolated locations.

Avalanche Summary

Road patrol on Maligne road observed few small dry loose avalanches in steep alpine terrain, and one large wind slab in steep alpine NE aspect. Icefields road patrol observed no new natural avalanche activity.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.