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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2021–Mar 2nd, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Forecasted snowfall and continued wind will increase the load sitting on the faceted snow pack. Avoid wind-loaded features.

Weather Forecast

Overnight: 9cm of snow forecast for overnight Monday to Tuesday morning, with moderate to strong SW winds.

Tuesday: Alpine temperature: High -8 C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 75 km/h. Trace amount of snow

Wednesday: Alpine temperature: Low -11 C, High -6 C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Trace amount of snow.

Snowpack Summary

Continued widespread wind effect in open areas at all elevations. Windward aspects have been heavily stripped of snow. The snowpack is highly variable. Shallow snowpack areas are weak and failing in compression tests, while the mid-pack is supportive in areas where the snowpack is deeper.

Avalanche Summary

A few wind slabs size 2-3 were observed today in the Sunwapta Zone on E and SW aspects; 2 of these avalanches were triggered by cornice failures and stated at or just above tree line, running to below tree line.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

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.