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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2013–Mar 30th, 2013

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

Regions

Jasper.

Spring Conditions.  Expect the avalanche danger level to rise at all elevations by early afternoon as conditions warm.  Travel early!  Cornice fall is becoming a greater concern with the warm weather.

Weather Forecast

The freezing level is expected to rise to above 2500m on Saturday.  High cloud and light to moderate west winds are forecasted as well.  Slightly cooler temperatures are possible on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

A 5 to 10 cm melt freeze crust on solar aspects below treeline appears to be maintaining its strength until mid afternoon. Isothermal conditions exist on shallow south facing slopes up to treeline. North facing treeline and the alpine snowpack are relatively stable with a well settled mid-pack bridging basal facets.

Avalanche Summary

The wet loose avalanche cycle continues on steep solar aspects from treeline to valley bottom beginning by mid-afternoon.  Slides ranged from 0.5 to large 2 in size.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.