Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2021–Jan 22nd, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Good quality turns can still be found in sheltered areas below tree line that were not hit by Tuesday's wind event. Be wary of overhead hazard on solar aspects.

Weather Forecast

A high pressure system will continue to provide mostly clear skies with temperatures trending to below seasonal. 

Friday: Sunny with cloudy periods.  Precip nil.  Alpine Temps: High -10 C Low -15 C.  Winds NW light.

Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud.  Precip nil. Alpine Temps: High -11 C Low -15 C.  Winds W light.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme southwesterly winds have stripped snow from exposed terrain and fetch areas and resulted in wind slabs and wind affected snow in open terrain below treeline, at treeline and in the alpine. The midpack is supportive. Surface hoar is found down 40cm to 80cm in isolated sheltered locations.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1 to size 2 wind slabs observed Wednesday, mostly from extreme west facing alpine terrain.

Share your trip info at Mountain Information Network .

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.

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.