Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2025–Jan 9th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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 possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Watch for fresh wind slabs. Rapid loading from wind could overload our weak and shallow snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural windslabs avalanches have been observed around the icefields area to size 1 from east aspects in the alpine. Also, there have been several loose dry avalanches from steep rocky terrain across the region.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs have formed from moderate, gusting strong W-SW winds. Currently, the snowpack is averaging 60-120cm in depth at the treeline. 10-30cm sits atop a weakening melt freeze curst and surface hoar layer from early December. The middle of the snowpack is facetted and there is a deep persistent layer at the base of the snowpack consisting of an decomposing melt freeze crust and depth hoar.

Weather Summary

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

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.

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.