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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2019–Dec 19th, 2019

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

Regions

Jasper.

A strong south-west wind is ripping through the ridge tops of the forecast region; scouring and loading features with reckless abandon!

Tailing this is a luscious pacific system set to unload up to 50cm of new snow through the weekend. Stay tuned.

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather with moderate to strong SW winds for the next few days. Forecast region is under the influence of a weather system tracking from the Gulf of Alaska. On Friday, a sub tropical 'atmospheric river', arrives with rising temperatures and, at times heavy precip through to Sunday.

For more details: Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Sustained moderate to strong SW ridge-top winds likely creating variable soft and hard slabs in all lee features. There is a mid-pack crust/facet interface distributed through the region. It has shown very little reactivity to this point. A weak basal facet/depth hoar layer exists at the base of the pack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Add or view trip reports here at the CAA's Mountain Information Network

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday

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.