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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2020–Mar 8th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

Carefully assess the bond between the new and old snow surfaces before stepping into committing terrain.

Weather Forecast

An arctic front, descending south through Alberta will change the low-level flow to the northeast bringing a steady temperature drop Saturday evening and some flurries but, little accumulation. A typically cool, mixed sun/cloud day for Sunday; light west wind and an alpine high temperature of -11.

More detailed forecast at: Mountain weather forecast

Snowpack Summary

35cm of recent new snow appears to be bonding well to the old surfaces. Wind transport has been continuously forming soft wind slab on lee aspects. The Columbia Icefields region has a well bridged mid pack overlying basal facets and depth hoar. The northern forecast region is weaker and shallow; bridging over the basal weakness is less reliable.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity observed or reported.

Use the Mountain Information Network to share your field trip observations contributing to the daily avalanche bulletin.

Confidence

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.