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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2021–Apr 9th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Avalanche control plannedon Hwy 93N on Friday between Parkers summer and Big Bend, follow AB 511 for up to date information. The Icefields region remains wintery and good travel and riding can be found, mostly in sheltered areas.

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries.Trace. Low -11 °C.Friday: Flurries. Accumulation: 6 cm. Alpine temperature: High -7 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom. Saturday: Scattered flurries. Risk of a thundershower. Accumulation: 4 cm.  Low -12 °C, High -9 °C.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of new snow with light winds. Snowpack shows strength and bonding in field tests; recurring instabilities are found close to surface. We are most concerned about potential to trigger deeper, persistent slabs (Fc, DH), especially as the snowpack changes with typical spring inputs (rain, sun, wet snow).

Avalanche Summary

A road patrol south today noted numerous loose dry avalanches. Most importantly, our field teams have observed few large slides running within deeper instabilities. One large slide of size 3 was observed today in Churchill slide path, a popular ski destination to many.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

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 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.

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.