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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2021–Jan 4th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

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.

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.

Make your field trip observations count! Mountain Information Network.

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations

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.

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.