Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2024–Mar 20th, 2024

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Investigate how the new snow is bonding to the previous surface before committing to any terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches plus large slab avalanches running on the Feb Crust with some stepping down to ground have been observed in the past week on all aspects and elevations.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snow pack is either a crust in the cold mornings or moist snow in the warm afternoons on all aspects and elevations except the high north. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Wednesday

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 15 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -2 °C.

Ridge wind light to 25 km/h.

Freezing level: 2000m

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 5cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind northeast: 10 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.