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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2022–Apr 7th, 2022

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

Regions

Jasper.

Recent wind slab and cornice activity noted up to size 2. Rising freezing level and incoming precipitation will increase the hazard Thursday and Friday. Expect road closures on Hwy 93 and Maligne Road on Friday - 511 for updates.

Weather Forecast

Thursday - mix of sun and cloud with freezing level rising to 2200m; winds light to moderate SW.  Expecting little recovery overnight with freezing level falling to 1500m then back to 2200m on Friday.  Friday will see flurries with mixed precip and rain possible at lower elevations up to 12mm.  Mix of sun and cloud and a cooling into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong SW winds have redistributed recent snow (up to 15cm Icefields area) into lee features in the alpine and down into treeline. The freezing level is forecast to reach 2200m Thursday with little to no recovery. There is a sun crust high into the alpine on solar aspects and and melt freeze crust up to 2200m. Midpack is well settled.

Avalanche Summary

One size 1.5 windslab observed on Indian ridge NE aspect alpine; 2 size 2 cornice failures that triggered wind slab below 30-50cm deep E aspect alpine K2 feature at the icefields.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.