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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 15th, 2013–Dec 16th, 2013

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

Regions

Jasper.

Early season hazards exist just under the surface. Winds have gusted into 90km/hr range.

Weather Forecast

Winds will continue to gust strong until Tuesday evening. Snowfall will range from 5-15cm in next few days and temperatures will cool later in week.

Snowpack Summary

Variable wind slab on lee features at treeline and alpine. Alpine is a mosaic of scoured ground and wind-loaded gully features on lee aspects. Strong gusting winds are constantly changing directions. Expect windslab development in unusual locations. Oct 27 Raincrust exists near bottom of snowpack with Facets above and below.

Avalanche Summary

Size 2.5 off Mt. Tangle observed Sunday afternoon on NE aspect in a steep alpine gully at ridgetop.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.