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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2022–Apr 14th, 2022

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

Regions

Jasper.

Generally safe avalanche conditions still require terrain management. Cornices are mature and unpredictable - continue to give them a wide berth during this time of low hazard.

Weather Forecast

Building cloud on Thursday with the potential for trace amount of precipitation - winds light from the east.  Friday may see additional flurries up to 6cm; flurries continue into Saturday with up to 8cm and continued light winds. Freezing level to remain at valley bottom with temperatures warming back to seasonal into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Previous moderate north winds have created isolated wind slabs and reverse loading in wind prone areas. Marmot ski area reports these new slabs are bonding well to the previous surface. On solar aspects a 3cm sun crust exist up to 2400m under 10-15cm of snow. Likewise a 5cm melt-freeze crust exists up to 2200m on all aspects down 10cm.

Avalanche Summary

Cornice triggered size 2 wind slab observed on Pyramid Wednesday - south patrol noted no new activity. On Tuesday two natural cornice falls were observed on the Churchill range. These cornices did not trigger slabs below. Also a small natural wind slab was observed around the Parker Ridge Area.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

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.

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.