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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2021–Mar 3rd, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Potential for a significant solar triggered cycle on an already active snowpack for the rest of the week.

Start early, seek out dry slopes, and finish early!

Weather Forecast

Overnight: Mainly cloudy. Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C. Ridge wind sw: 10 km/h.

Wednesday: Mainly cloudy. Alpine temperature: High -6 °C. Ridge wind sw: 10 km/h. Freezing level: 1400 m

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -4 °C. Ridge wind sw: 10 km/h. Freezing level: 1800m

Snowpack Summary

Continued widespread wind effect with some light precip. transported through open areas at all elevations. Windward aspects have been heavily stripped of snow, creating hard windslabs in all lee features. Highly variable snowpack across the region, with shallow areas failing at the faceted base, while deeper regions have a strong mid-pack bridge.

Avalanche Summary

Wind slabs up to size 2-3 were observed again today in the Sunwapta Zone on E and SW aspects.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.