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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2023–Jan 13th, 2023

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

Brazeau, Maligne, Marmot, Pyramid.

The east side of Jasper is forecasted to receive limited snow during the storm. Watch for rising freezing levels and increasing winds for Friday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A field team went up to Maligne today. No significant avalanche activity has been observed or reported.

If you're out in the hills, don't forget to post to the MIN. Every bit of information helps!

Snowpack Summary

Increasing winds are expected to start Thursday evening. The storm will bring warm temperatures and rising freezing levels to around 2000m. Heavily wind affected and scoured alpine and open tree line terrain. Large facets and depth hoar comprise most of the snowpack. The snowpack varies from 50-85cm in depth and is unsupportive.

Weather Summary

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High 0 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -5 °C, High -3 °C.

Ridge wind south: 15-30 km/h.

Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Watch for signs of slab formation throughout the day.

Problems

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.

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.

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.