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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2019–Apr 18th, 2019

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

Regions

Jasper.

ROAD CLOSURE: The Icefields Parkway (93N) is likely to be closed due to increased avalanche hazard on Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning from Parker Ridge to Saskatchewan Crossing. For updates check:  https://511.alberta.ca

Weather Forecast

For the Parker Ridge Area:

Thursday:

Periods of snow: 15cm (rain below treeline)

Treeline temperature: High 0 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 2300 metres.

Snowpack Summary

Above treeline 15-20cm of settling snow sits on a variety of crusts. Above 2200m on northerly slopes, a more winter like snowpack can be found, with windslab, a peristent 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.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Problems

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.

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.