Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2020–Feb 18th, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

Human triggering is possible in areas where windslab is present. This WILL trigger the deep instability, especially in areas where there is significant spacial variability and wind effect.

Weather Forecast

Fair weather approaches! A surface ridge, from the north and will push isolated flurries through the northern front ranges Monday; finally clearing over the day Tuesday. Broken sun and an alpine high temperature of -12 C. Wind, NW 10 km/h gusting to 30 km/h.

Find the Alberta Rockies weather synopsis here: Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Variable strength windslab on the surface. Pronounced cornice development on northerly aspects and cross loaded features treeline and above. The mid-pack is bridging the deeper basal facets and depth hoar in some locations.

Average HS at treeline: ~180cm.

Avalanche Summary

"The Beast has awakened!" Experienced back-country users remotely triggered a very large avalanche (sz 4) on Whistlers Peak yesterday. The pair observed significant wind effect in the area and unknowingly triggered the windslab from 100m away, which then initiated the entire season's snowpack on the deep persistent layer. Further details here: MIN

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.

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.