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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2018–Jan 26th, 2018

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.

Expect a lot of variability in snow depth in exposed terrain from this week's gusty winds.

Weather Forecast

Cool (not cold) arctic air will keep precip to only light and scattered flurries through most of the weekend. Light to moderate SW winds gusting to moderate will accompany the cooler air.

Snowpack Summary

Windslab building above 3 weak interfaces in the top 30 to 50cm of the snowpack. Depth of surface hoar/facet layers varies with the terrain and vegetation shelter, but is most consistently found in sheltered features at TL and above.

Avalanche Summary

Natural windslab avalanches up to size 1.5 were observed Tuesday in windswept alpine moraine features. Appears to be running on the persistent slab interface down 30 to 50cm.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.