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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 21st, 2020–Nov 22nd, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

Avoid areas that have been wind loaded and watch for rocks/fallen trees that might lurk just below the surface. Public field reports can be submitted through the MIN and are much appreciated

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Mainly cloudy. Precip: Nil. Alpine temps: Low -10 C. Ridge wind SW: 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Sunday: Isolated flurries. Precip: Trace. Alpine temp: High -8 C. Ridge wind SW: 15-30 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday: Isolated flurries. Precip: Trace. Alpine temp: Low -9 C, High -7 C. Ridge wind SW: 10-30 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 45cm of new snow over the past 72 hours .The snowpack is ~100cm at treeline. The Nov. 4th rain crust up to 2600m depending on location, and is up to 70cm deep. Continued wind slab development on N and E aspects ridgetop down into treeline.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wind slab avalanches in the alpine on north aspects have been observed in the Jasper and Bald hills region over the past 48 hours. No field trips today, limited observations

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

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.

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.