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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 7th, 2014–Dec 8th, 2014

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

Regions

Jasper.

A storm is approaching and is forecast to hit the region on tuesday and intensify into Wednesday.  Conditions will deteriorate rapidly. 

Weather Forecast

Snow will begin Monday evening becoming heavy by Wednesday with accumulations of 30 cm possible.  Winds will increase into the moderate range.  Temperatures will be warm with the freezing level reaching to 2200 m on Wednesday.  Precipitation will likely fall as rain at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps are reaching into the alpine and are promoting settlement of last week's storm snow.  Isolated windslab can be found in exposed areas in the alpine. The main concern is the interface between the settled storm snow and several crusts near the bottom of the snowpack. This interface is producing widespread whumphing at treeline.

Avalanche Summary

No field patrols today.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Wednesday

Problems

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.

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.