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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 30th, 2021–Dec 1st, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Heavy snowfall and strong winds will dramatically increase the avalanche hazard overnight. The Icefields Parkway is now closed from Athabasca Falls to Saskatchewan Crossing.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: 20cm Snow with and alpine low of -4 C. Ridge wind southwest: 30 gusting to 60 km/h. Freezing level 1600 m

Wednesday: 15cm snow with and alpine high of -1. Ridge wind west: 20 gusting to 65 km/h. Freezing level 2100m

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Ridge wind west: gusting to 55 km/h. Freezing level 1600m

Snowpack Summary

Incoming storm snow will fall over recently formed wind slabs on all but SW aspects. The mid-pack is around 80cm thick above a thin crust near the ground in some locations. Snowpack is shrinking rapidly at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

Multiple, natural wet loose Avalanches up to Size 2 observed on the Icefields parkway this afternoon. Explosive control on Parker Slabs on Monday produced thin wind slabs not propagating far. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected throughout the incoming storm.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.