Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 8th, 2020–Nov 9th, 2020

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Jasper.

Early season hazards are very present at the moment. Reverse loading could have built wind slabs on the southerly aspects.

Weather Forecast

Monday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperature: Low -13 C, High -10 C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Treeline has a snowpack of 30-40cm with overall supportive travel. 10cm of recent snow has been redistributed from moderate northerly and westerly winds and overlies a rain crust which exists up to 2200m. Winds have formed wind slabs and wind effect on S through E aspects at ridge top. Below treeline the snow remains below threshold values.

Avalanche Summary

Friday's patrol noted one size 2.5 wind slab in the alpine on large east facing rock slab, It appeared to be cornice triggered, started loose and resulted in a slab lower down. Several other size 2 wind slabs were observed in alpine E aspects that near ridge tops. No new avalanches observed over the weekend

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

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.