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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2022–Apr 8th, 2022

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

Regions

Jasper.

Hard hit of spring like conditions before a significant cooling trend leading into next week.

Planned closures of the Icefields Parkway between Parkers Ridge and Sask Crossing and Maligne Lake road. Timely updates to road status available at AB511

Weather Forecast

Variable weather through out the forecast region with rain and/or snow possible at TL and below. Best to select area specific forecasts via Avalanche Canada's Mountain Weather Forecasts resources.

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 levels reaching well into TL with strong probability of rain on Friday. 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

Previously reported 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

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

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.

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

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.