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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2022–Feb 12th, 2022

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

Regions

Jasper.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=http://avalanche.ca/spaw/2022-02-10-spaw

Current warming trend was less dramatic then originally forecasted. A cautious attitude is still recommended as our first significant warming event adds stress to a complicated and variable snowpack.

Avoid solar slopes during peak warming.

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Sun and cloud. No Precipitation. Freezing level rising to 1900m. Wind West 10-30km/h

Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Freezing level 1900m. West wind 10-25km/h.

Monday: Cloudy with sunny periods and Isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Freezing level 1500m.

Snowpack Summary

Weak temperature crust on all aspects up to 1900m with a 1cm sun crust on solar aspects extending into alpine. Upper snowpack has settled but expect reactivity to increase during peak warming/ solar exposure. Exposed alpine stripped to rock at ridgetop & open features. Dec Facets down 20-70cm. Basal faceting & depth hoar widespread throughout area.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control using explosives produced size 2 wet loose results Thursday. A Natural size 3 persistent slab avalanche was noted from a SW aspect on Nigel peak; estimated date Feb 09- likely triggered by large cornice fall from above.

No new avalanche activity observed on the Icefields Parkway or Maligne Lake Road on Friday, Feb 11.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.