Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2021–Feb 10th, 2021

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

If you must travel in the Back Country: keep your objectives short, and close to home. Even a small injury will have serious consequences with the present temperatures.

Ice climbers be very leery of any brittle, overhead features.

Weather Forecast

Coldest recorded temps (so far;): Maligne, -40.1; Parkers Ridge, -34.9

My limited meteorological experience tells me, it's really cold; and not looking to be tolerable, at least until the end of the week.

Wednesday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: High -24 °C. Ridge wind northeast: 10 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

The cold has deeply penetrated the snowpack, promoting profound facetting in the upper 40cm. This will slow any slab development on the recent storm snow. The mid-pack has remained strong but, will loose strength over time with the prolonged arctic influence, especially where shallow.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity observed or reported.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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.