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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2020–Dec 25th, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

Merry Christmas!!

Santa has brought a sac full of sensitive wind slabs in the alpine and open tree line all aspects; some in places you may not expect! Keep this in mind when choosing holiday objectives.

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud and a chance for isolated flurries Friday. Scattered flurries on Saturday with up to 5cm possible. Continued isolated flurries on Sunday.

Ridgetop winds will remain moderate to strong from the southwest on Friday; expect decreasing values on Saturday.

Temperature will be seasonal with freezing level remaining at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

A north wind event on Dec 22 loaded southerly lees; present strong to extreme SW winds are reloading northerly terrain with last weeks 40cm of storm snow. The new snow sits upon a facet layer with isolated surface hoar sheltered areas TL and below. Midpack is generally supportive with a weaker base of facets and depth hoar. Avg depth is 65-160cm.

Avalanche Summary

No Na activity reported today. Field team reporting whumphing and shooting cracks 2300m on southerly aspect Icefields area yesterday - suspect sensitive wind slab up to 60cm deep continuing to develop on specific terrain features all aspects at treeline and above.

Confidence

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.