Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Jasper.
Winter persists for the next 2 days. Avoid traveling or stopping under large slopes or corniced features as they may be sensitive to triggering.
Weather Forecast
Scattered flurries to continue for the next 48 hours. Accumulations and loading may vary significantly. Forecasted snow amounts for 25 cm for the Icefields and 20 for Maligne regions. At lower elevations (under 1800m) the snowpack is vanishing and what snow remains is not supportive with warming. Winds remain light with mod gusts at ridge top.
Snowpack Summary
A further 4cm, with previous HST totals up to 20cm with varied localized amounts as unsettled weather continues. Mod SW winds have certainly overloaded wind slabs and cornices in open areas at TL and ALP. Persistent instabilities (down 40 to 100 cm) are sensitive to large triggers like cornices, especially on N asp slopes at TL and ALP elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Poor visibility in the region today, reported audible (heard, not seen) avalanches in the Icefields.A large (Size 2.5) persistent slab avalanche was reported Saturday, from a N asp in the alpine.Great information being shared daily on Avalanche Canada's MIN Reports for the Maligne, Whistler's Creek and Icefields regions.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
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.
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.