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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 23rd, 2019–Dec 24th, 2019

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

Regions

Jasper.

Surprisingly little avalanche activity as a result of the significant amount of storm snow received this past week. Uncertainty remains on how reactive this new snow will be to human traffic. Conservative terrain choices are recommended

Weather Forecast

Clear skies and calm winds will continue through Tuesday. Tuesday night winds will increase from the NW and continue through to later in the week.

Snowpack Summary

45cms of mostly undisturbed HST continues to settle and with cold temperatures tighten up. This overlies a mosaic of buried wind slab, ground and facetted weak layers. Basal layers continue to develop into larger facets and depth hoar. Surface hoar continue to grow in sheltered areas.

Avalanche Summary

Surprising little avalanche activity in the last 72 hours given the amounts of storm snow that has fallen on the forecast area in the last week. A new size 2 wind slab out of northerly treeline lee feature and some dry loose up to size 2 out of steep alpine terrain were the only new avalanches in the last 24 hours.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Monday

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.