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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2020–Mar 5th, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

Avalanche Control will be conducted along the Icefields Parkway on Friday, March 6th.

Expect periodic closures, up to 2 hours between 10:00 to 18:00.

Weeping Wall and Polar Circus will be closed.

No Climbing permitted at any time on Friday.

Weather Forecast

Snowfall tapering off through the day Wednesday as the front moves east and a shallow ridge builds. This will be quickly replaced by another front on Thursday; accompanied with rising freezing levels, snow and strong winds. Forecasted snow overnight, 15cm; to add to the previous 20-25cm fallen over the last week.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow overlies a variety of surfaces depending on aspect and elevation. New wind slabs forming on lee aspects. The Columbia Icefields region has a well bridged mid pack overlying basal facets and depth hoar. The northern part of the forecast region has a generally shallower snow pack that is less bridged.

Avalanche Summary

Few small natural avalanches observed in steep cross-loaded features, at tree-line along the Colin Range in the Maligne Valley.

Used daily by Forecasters, The Mountain Information Network is your way to share your field trip observations and helps contribute to the daily avalanche bulletin.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday

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.

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.