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 11th, 2020–Feb 12th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

More sensitive soft slab development suspected at treeline.  Opening skies will invite additional solar input.  Expect increasing hazard on steep solar aspects during the day.

Weather Forecast

A clearing trend is expected tomorrow with continued seasonal temperatures.  Ridgetop winds will decrease to light values from the southwest.  A weak low pressure system is expected on Thursday with some light precipitation.

See Weather synopsis here: Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

SW winds have created variable windslab and pronounced cornice development on Northerly aspects and crossloaded features treeline and above. Suspect more sensitive soft slab developing at treeline.  The mid-pack is bridging the deeper basal facets and depth hoar. Average HS at treeline: ~180cm.

Avalanche Summary

Previous large avalanches observed on Northerly aspects and triggered by large loads (like cornices) and from steep alpine terrain features.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation 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.