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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 22nd, 2020–Nov 23rd, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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.

Avoid areas that have been wind loaded and watch for early season hazards. Your field reports can be submitted through the MIN and are much appreciated

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precip: Trace. Alp temps: Low -8 C. Ridge wind SW: 10-30 km/h.

Monday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -6 C. Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h.

Tuesday: Flurries. Accumulation: 9 cm. Alp temp: Low -9 C, High -7 C. Ridge wind SW: 20-35 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is highly variable depending on location. Height of snow at Parkers is ~100cm at treeline. The Nov.4 crust up to 2600m, and is up to 70cm deep. Test results on this crust have shown a mix of mod sudden/resistent planar results. Continued wind slab develop on N and E aspects ridgetop down into treeline. Basal layers continue to weaken

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wind slab and dry loose avalanches in the alpine on north aspects have been observed in the Icefields, Jasper and Bald hills region over the past 72 hours. Natural avalanche activity has decreased over the last 24 hours with the winds reducing and clear skies having moved into the area.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

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.

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.