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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2019–Dec 30th, 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.

The snowpack remains weak and stagnant. Stick to low angle sheltered terrain for the best skiing. Avoid steep wind and cross-loaded slopes as dangerous wind slab present there may be easily triggered.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will fall into Monday with increasing cloud, light flurries and rising SW winds.  Similar conditions continue on Tuesday.  The cloud and flurries persist into mid-week, however temperatures will gradually warm and winds will ease.

CAA's Mountain Weather Forecast for more specific details.

Snowpack Summary

6-25mm surface hoar growing up to 2200m in sheltered areas. SW winds have created wind slabs on lee features treeline and above. These surface windslabs sit on a variety of buried wind slabs and facetted weak layers. In sheltered areas, the snowpack is weak and faceted. The bottom of the snowpack is also weak with large facets and depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

No new observations along the Icefields Parkway today.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations 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.

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.