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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2020–Jan 22nd, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

Significant recent wind effect and cornice growth has been observed in the region the past couple of days. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully as large avalanches could occur in isolated areas.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace amount of snowfall, High -7 °C, and 15-35 km/h Southwest winds. Thursday will be flurries, up to 9 cm. of snow, low -10 °C and high -4 °C, and 15-30 km/h winds.

For more info: Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

The soft surface snow is becoming more cohesive and bonding to the previous surfaces as it settles with mild temperatures. The upper snowpack remains mainly facetted. This is pronounced in shallow areas where there is less than 60cm height of snow. There is inconsistent bridging in the mid-pack over the weak basal facets and depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

Icefields and Maligne patrols on Tuesday noted no new natural activity. Monday's explosive work South of the Icefields produced soft slabs to size 1.5 on low elevation targets. Also significant surface pinwheels occurred on solar aspects. A size 2 wet slab released below treeline onto the road at Medicine Lake late Monday afternoon.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

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.