Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 19th, 2023–Dec 20th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Ice Climbers: What's over your head?

Warm temps over the next few days will make thin, early-season ice even weaker.

Watch for isolated slabs, loose dry, and sluffs in consequential terrain.

Riders: If you find the snowpack supportive, you are on a slab over weak facets, it's not a great combo.

Best bet for safe turns, try the ski hill.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Following a weak weather system from Monday, there is ~10cm of low density, well redistributed in open terrain around the Icefields. The whole area looks to be in rough shape. Snowballing observed below 2000m on solar slopes. Some loose dry was observed during the day Tuesday from ledges at Weeping Wall.

Weather Summary

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

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. No precip. Alpine High: -2 °C. Light ridgetop winds, south.

Freezing level: 1900 metres. Warm temps. at low elevations. Especially around Jasper townsite.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.