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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2022–Feb 7th, 2022

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

Important to investigate the bond of the new snow arriving Monday and how the strong winds will add to any pre-existing Wind slabs. Extreme winds can deposit snow into lower elevation locations. 

Weather Forecast

Parker ridge on Monday will receive approximately 12cm with the bulk of it arriving between 5am and noon, -6C, strong to extreme West winds. Clouds and flurries, -10C, and moderate West winds for Tuesday. Wednesday is sun with flurries, -9 to -4C, light West winds and a 1700m freezing level.

Snowpack Summary

Strong SW winds the last few days are sustaining the Windslab condition particularly in mid to higher elevation ridgetop locations. The snowpack can range from shallow and barely supportive weak facets in low elevations to a more consistent coverage and solid midpack at treeline and above. Buried 30cm deep Surface hoar has been spotty at treeline.

Avalanche Summary

Sunday's Maligne patrol up Fossil ridge did not note anything new. Saturday's Maligne patrol noted few small dry loose avalanches in steep alpine terrain, and one large wind slab, 30-70cm deep in a steep alpine NE aspect. Saturday's Icefields patrol did not observe any new activity. Visibility was excellent on all these patrols.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable on Monday

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.

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.