Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2023–Dec 30th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

The possibility of triggering a deep persistent slab in steep rocky terrain remains our main avalanche concern, with the dangerous nature of the ski conditions following quickly behind.

Use caution if you're heading into higher consequence terrain, or gaining any significant velocity.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported in the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

There has been extensive wind effect at tree line and above, with windward aspects scoured bare, and hard wind slabs/wind effected snow on lee features. Sheltered areas have a weak faceted snowpack with the Dec 2nd surface hoar down 20-30cm, and depth hoar making up the bottom 10-30cm. Two thin melt freeze crusts from December (5th and 22nd) warming events exist below 1800m. Average snow depth at at tree line is 40-60cm.

Weather Summary

Mild and breezy weather with the possibility of a few flurries near the icefields will continue for the next few days.

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.
Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Problems

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.

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.