Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 16th, 2021–Dec 17th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

The avalanche hazard is slowly decreasing thanks to a mostly benign weather pattern. It's a great time to get out in the hills. Remember to be well prepared though, the days are short and the nights are cold.

Weather Forecast

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil.  High -16 °C. Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.

Saturday: Cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 5 cm.  Low -19 °C, High -13 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15-25 km/h.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Low -22 °C, High -13 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate SW winds and small amounts of new snow over the week have formed wind slabs in alpine and treeline areas. Mid snowpack has settled well with a 2cm crust present below the recent snow up to 1950m. Another crust near the base of the snowpack continues to promote basal faceting adding to deep persistent slab concerns.

Avalanche Summary

MIN report from Tues relaying obs of numerous dry loose Weeping Wall - some triggering slab pockets and gaining mass. Explosive work on Monday at Marmot Ski Resort triggered 2 size 2 full depth avalanches on the November 5 basal weakness.

Please share your trip report, Ice and/or Riding conditions on Avalanche Canada's, Mountain Information Network!

Confidence

Due to the number 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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.