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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 7th, 2021–Dec 8th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Natural avalanche activity has tapered off yet triggering of full depth avalanches on the basal weakness remains possible in specific tree line and alpine features. Excellent quality riding can be found in sheltered terrain!

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Scattered flurries. Accumulation: 8 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -12 C, High -8 C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h

Thursday: Isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -16 C, High -13 C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h

Friday:  Cloudy scattered flurries: Accumulation: 4cm. Alpine temperature: Low -18 C, High -12 C

Snowpack Summary

Surface facetting and spotty surface hoar growth noted.  Storm snow from last week has been stripped from exposed windward alpine features.  In sheltered areas 20-30cm of settled storm snow sits atop of a supportive midpack.  Our basal crust/facet/depth hoar combo near the ground remains a layer of concern. Snowpack depth 100-140cm Icefields area.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed in the Icefields area on Monday. Maligne area field team reported no new avalanches on Sunday. Although natural avalanche activity has tapered off, human triggering of large avalanches remains possible especially in features with variable thin to thick snow depths in the alpine and at treeline.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

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.

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.