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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 22nd, 2019–Dec 23rd, 2019

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

Regions

Jasper.

Highway 93N and Maligne Road will remain closed overnight Sunday, into Monday due to significant avalanche debris across the highway. Check Alberta 511 for updated road opening details.

Weather Forecast

Last of the recent storm passing through the region; followed closely behind by light SW winds, lower RH levels and broken skies. Seasonal cool temps headed into Christmas with daytime highs to -8, lows -15.

Snowpack Summary

New snow fallen in the last 48 hours with very little wind effect and variable slab cohesion. This overlies wind slab and a variety of weak layers near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche activity on all aspects and elevations up to size 3.0. Many dry loose avalanches below treeline and above, numerous storm slab avalanches below treeline and above.

Avalanche Control on the Icefields parkway produced numerous slides upto size 3.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.