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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2019–Apr 19th, 2019

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

Regions

Jasper.

ROAD CLOSURE: The Icefields Parkway (93N) is closed from Parker Ridge to Saskatchewan Crossing Thursday at 2pm due to avalanche hazard with the incoming storm. For updates check: https://511.alberta.ca

Weather Forecast

Tonight will be periods of wet snow mixed with rain, 16 cm of snow, Low 0 C, wind southwest 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h, and freezing level 2200 metres. Friday will be flurries, 9 cm of snow, 1 C, wind west 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h, and freezing level 2300 metres. Saturday will be sun and cloud, no snow, Low -8 C, High -3 C, and West winds.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds are moving the 5-10cm of settled surface snow about the landscape and more snow is expected. This will rest on a variety of crusts. Above 2200m on northerly slopes, a winter like snowpack can be found, with windslabs, a persistent weak layer down 20-50cm, and a facetted mid and lower snowpack which is weak in shallow areas.

Avalanche Summary

There was natural windslab activity observed in the past couple of days. The mid march PWL continues to produce whumphing in shallower snowpack areas and on moraine features, indicating unstable snow below. Thursday's patrol only had glimpses into the alpine due to strong winds and incoming storm, nothing new was noted.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday

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.