Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
Jasper.
Cold temperatures continue to weaken the snowpack, especially in shallow areas. The current avalanche problems will persist until this pattern changes.
Weather Forecast
Lows on the South Coast will usher in scattered high cloud and possibly some flurries.Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with flurries. Light winds. Alpine temps Low -21°C, High -17°C.Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud, Light winds. Alpine temps Low -18°C, High -13°C.A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.
Snowpack Summary
50cm from Feb 2nd was followed by strong N winds. Ongoing cold temps have weakened the structure of the slab over the persistent weakness below, which consists of surface hoar, crusts, and/or facets. The basal snowpack is structurally weak in shallow areas, consisting primarily of facets/depth hoar (ongoing cold temps are not helping).
Avalanche Summary
Several loose dry avalanches up to size 2 have been naturally triggered in the facetting snowpack in steep shallow areas over the past 2-3 days. On Feb 7th, a size 2 deep persistent slab was triggered by skiers in the Maligne area on a W aspect, 1950m, on a 30 degree slope (see MIN).
Confidence
Problems
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.
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.