Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 20th, 2025–Feb 21st, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Ice climbers watch for overhead hazard with the warm temperatures,especially if the sun is out.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A few small loose point release avalanches observed on a field day around Parker Ridge.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures are making the surface snow moist below 1900m and on south facing terrain. The Icefields has wind effect even into treeline while the Bald hills have had noticeably less. In sheltered areas there is roughly 15cm of snow overlying the January 30th layer which is a temperature crust or wind slab depending on the area. The midpack is weak and faceted. The bottom of the snowpack is comprised of large depth hoar.

Weather Summary

Friday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -5 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 1500m

Saturday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 14 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 1600m

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.