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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2022–Feb 10th, 2022

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

Elevated freezing levels expected into Thursday with minimal refreeze overnight.This  may trigger deeper instabilities.

follow 511 for most up to date road closures.

Weather Forecast

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -2 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Friday

Sunny

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -5 °C.

Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 55 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow with rising freezing levels and warm temperatures persisting into Thursday. Strong SW winds have stripped exposed alpine to rock. We expect wind slabs in crossloaded features and into tree line.  Several December faces layers can be found in the midpack. Facets and depth hoar are formed near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Road Patrol did not observe any natural activity today. On Tuesday one large wind slab avalanche was noted on Fluted Peak on a south facing feature.

Confidence

Freezing levels are 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.

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.

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.