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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2021–Jan 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Jasper.

Highway 93 will be closed for travel and recreation as of 10:00 AM Saturday. Expected opening on Monday.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Snow accumulation: 12 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.Saturday: Snow, heavy at times accumulation: 27 cm. Alpine temperature: High -6 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.Sunday: Flurries. Accumulation: 12 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -6 °C. Wind SW moderate.

Snowpack Summary

Light precipitation and strong SW winds through the day. 15-25cm of soft snow over a firm mid-pack with facets and depth hoar lingering near the ground. Mid-December persistent layers, including SH, and SH/FC combos can be found down 25-40cm but, only in isolated and sheltered locations, and almost exclusively in the Icefields region.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed. Forecasting field team reporting reactive new wind slab in the Icefields region. Make your field trip observations count! Share them with the local outdoor adventure community on the Mountain Information Network from Avalanche Canada.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

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.