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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2016–Dec 25th, 2016

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

Regions

Jasper.

Scoured alpine terrain may push eager skiers to loaded gullies and lee terrain where the possibility of triggering windslabs exists. The Jasper Visitor Safety team wishes everybody a safe and happy holiday season!

Weather Forecast

The next light snowfall is expected to begin on Boxing Day, with light scattered flurries to wrap up 2016. The light Northerly flow will change to moderate Southwest winds with the next pulse of precipitation. Temperatures expected to rise from -20 to -12 with the new snow bringing in the new year.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of fresh snow may be found in sheltered areas. Previous strong winds have built slabs in lee features, cross loaded gullies and added to the size of cornices. Weak layers include; buried surface hoar (Dec 11) in sheltered NE aspects around treeline (2100-2300m) and the Nov 12 crust approximately 30cm from the ground.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports or observations in the past 24 hours on road patrols in the Maligne Valley and Columbia Icefield Area.

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.

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.