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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2022–Apr 10th, 2022

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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

We are experiencing a all freeze, no melt spring weather pattern but recently formed wind slabs sit over a variety of firm surfaces and may be reactive to human triggers in heavily wind loaded areas or during periods of intense solar exposure.

Weather Forecast

Spring weather is highly variable so we recommend selecting area specific forecasts at Spot Wx for localized conditions.

At Parkers ridge: Sunday- Cloudy with sunny periods North wind 15-30km/h. Alpine high -9

Monday - Mix of sun and cloud. Wind NE 15-30km/h. Alpine high -16

Tuesday - Cloudy with sunny periods & isolated flurries. 1cm snow. Light wind

Snowpack Summary

5-15cm or recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong NW-SW wind building wind slabs upto 40cm deep in Alpine and exposed or cross loaded features at Tree line. Windslabs sit over a sun crust on solar aspects into the alpine & a melt freeze up to 2300m on polar asp. Expect dry loose avalanches in steep terrain sheltered from wind. Mid pack.

Avalanche Summary

Multiple, natural dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 observed in steep rocky terrain from 2300-3000m on the Icefields Parkway today. Explosives testing on April 8 produced upto size 1.5 loose dry avalanches on Parkers ridge. Significant cornice growth has also been noted in the past 48h but no natural activity has been reported.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.