Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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.
Current avalanche problems have been reactive to light loads recently - the hazard may increase quickly if forecast snowfall amounts are exceeded.
Weather Forecast
Flurries continue for the next 24 hours. Accumulations and loading may vary significantly. Forecasted snow amounts are up to 7 cm in the Icefields area, with much less in the North. Freezing levels will fall to valley bottom overnight and rise to 1800m mid-day. Ridge winds will be mainly light and variable, with gusts into the moderate range.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20cm of snowfall since Thursday and moderate SW winds have built windslabs in open areas at treeline and in the alpine, and continue to add to the cornice problem. Persistent instabilities (down 40-100cm) remain sensitive to triggering, especially on N slopes at treeline and in the alpine. The mid and lower snowpack remain weak and facetted.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported today. Check Avalanche Canada's MIN Reports for several recent reports of large avalanches, both natural and skier triggered.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
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.