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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Oct 13th, 2020–Oct 14th, 2020

Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Jasper.

Avalanche season is upon us in the alpine. Due to a thin snowpack, glacier travel is also at its trickiest. Use Weather Stations, the ACMG Mountain Condition Reports, and the MIN for conditions; or ask for Visitor Safety at 780-852-6155.

Weather Forecast

Expect the current alternation of cold fronts and sunny weather to continue. Watch for fluctuating freezing levels. Warmer periods can leave crusts, which may act as future sliding layers.

Avalanche Canada offers a regional forecast.

Detailed local forecasts are available on SpotWX

Snowpack Summary

Watch out for alpine areas as they gain enough snow for avalanches over the next couple of weeks. Alpine bowls, gullies, and around ridge lines are classic spots for early season avalanches. Many open crevasses are hidden by thin bridges of wind-blown snow. Roping up, diligent probing, and experience are critical for glacier travel.

Early Season

Avalanche Summary

Danger is highest after new snowfall, rain, or wind transport - expect increased avalanche activity during, and for 24hrs after such events. Use extra caution where slabs lie over alpine ice; this was the cause of a large avalanche on Mt Athabasca in early October. Do your own avalanche forecasting; carry a transceiver, shovel & probe and practice.

Confidence

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.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.