Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 4 – 5, 2021
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Highway 93N is open. Work in to the terrain cautiously. Avalanche control on Sunday produced several size 3 avalanches that stepped down to basal weakness. Allow time for the snowpack to heal with the new load.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Recent new snow 45cm and southwesterly winds are creating new wind slabs that are primed for human triggering.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3

    During avalanche control today on highway 93N, Several avalanches stepped down to basal weakness. This is the first time we have seen the basal weakness fail this season. Caution!

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Steep rocky faces, slopes above gully's all hold enough snow to sluff off and bury you deeply if caught in a terrain trap. Caution in these area's

Weather Forecast

Monday: Mainly cloudy and will see light flurries, Up to 5cm with winds gusting to 40km/h from the SW

Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods, No new snow and winds again gusting to 50km/h from the SW

Wednesday: Will again see 5cm more snow and winds up to 40km/h from the SW

Snowpack Summary

45cm HST seems to be bonding well to 25-40cm of soft snow over a firm mid-pack with facets and depth hoar lingering near the ground. Mid-December persistent layers, including SH, and SH/FC combos can be found down 40-60cm but, only in isolated and sheltered locations, and almost exclusively in the Icefields region

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on highway 93N today had varied results from no results to several size 3 wind slabs stepping down to deep basal weakness on all aspects in the alpine. Multiple powder clouds and debris hitting the highway.

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Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations

Regions covered