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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2020–Mar 6th, 2020

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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.

Highway 93 will be closed at Friday at  10am from Parkers ridge to Saskatchewan crossing for avalanche control . Expected opening is 6pm with moderate confidence. The plan is for 2 hour temporary closures but no guarantees.

Weather Forecast

Thursday evening into Friday will bring potentially 20-30cm, -5 °C, light winds gusting to 35 km/h, and freezing level 1500 metres. Saturday will be 6 cm of snow, -17 to -12 °C, light winds, and freezing level at valley bottom. Sunday will bring a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, -19 to -13 °C, and light winds.

Snowpack Summary

25cm of recent new snow overlies a variety of surfaces depending on aspect and elevation. Wind slabs are continuously 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 is shallower and weaker. 20-30cm of snow may arrive Friday.

Avalanche Summary

Thursday's Icefield's patrol noted nothing new but visibility was poor. Yesterday Maligne patrol noted a few small natural avalanches in steep cross-loaded features at tree-line along the Colin Range. 

Use the Mountain Information Network to share your field trip observations contributing to the daily avalanche bulletin.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

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.

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.