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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2021–Feb 24th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

That warm feeling on your face at the end of the day is the first sign of spring!

The snowpack is feeling that effect too, be aware of overhead hazards that may be triggered by that solar warming. Ice Climbers, beware!

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Clear periods. Low -18 C.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -14 C. Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h.

Thursday: Flurries. Accumulation: 7 cm.  Alpine temperature: Low -13 C, High -9 C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong ridge top winds from the SW have created wind slabs or hard surface conditions in alpine and tree line features. In sheltered areas the top 30-60cm is faceted snow over a supportive mid-pack where the snowpack is deeper. Thin snowpack areas are weak, un-supportive, and facetted.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on the Icefields Parkway Monday produced results up to size 3 in the Parkers Ridge zone. Late afternoon activity noted, pockets of loose wet, triggered from steep W aspect. Likely the result of isolated sun and 'greenhouse effect', warming in the Wilson zone.

Confidence

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.

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.

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.