Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 13th, 2020–Nov 14th, 2020

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

Early season hazards are present, remain conservative in your terrain choices . Watch out for wind slabs in unexpected places.

Weather Forecast

Saturday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries with trace of snow and alpine high of -11 C with light southwest winds gusting to 40 km/h. Sunday will be snowing with expected accumulation of up to 16 cm and high of -6 C, light winds gusting to 60 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Treeline has a snowpack of 40-60cm with overall supportive travel. The Nov. 4th rain crust exists up to 2600m depending on location in the forecast area. Variable winds have formed wind slabs at ridge tops.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported on the field patrol to Columbia Icefields with a good visibility on Friday Nov 13th.

Confidence

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

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.