Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 6th, 2024–Jan 7th, 2024

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

15cm of new snow at Parkers Ridge has improved the ski quality on the Icefields Parkway. Keep in mind that our low snowpack means rocks, stumps, and other hazards may be hidden just below the surface.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Limited visibility on the Icefields Parkway Saturday. No new avalanches were observed at the tree line elevation today.

Please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of new snow has been redistributed by Moderate wind developing a soft wind slab in exposed terrain. Fresh Wind slab/snow sits over a previously wind-pressed layer that is supportive to ski's. The rest of the snowpack is weak and faceted with well-developed depth hoar at the base. Sheltered areas have an average snow depth of ~45-75 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. No precipitation. Ridge wind W: 10-20 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom

Monday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Ridge wind SW 15 km/h

Tuesday

Flurries. Accumulation: 6 cm. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.

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.
Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

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.

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.