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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 29th, 2021–Nov 30th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Jasper.

On Tuesday afternoon the Icefields Parkway from Athabasca Falls to Saskatchewan Crossing will be closed. A significant winter storm is forecasted for Jasper. Please plan to be out of the closure by 15:00.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday:

Periods of snow.

Accumulation: 15 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -3 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Wednesday:

Snow, heavy at times.

Accumulation: 42 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -3 C, High -1 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h.

Freezing level: 2000 metres.

Snowpack Summary

Around 25cm of new snow in the last 36 hours. Moderate SW winds are creating new thin wind slabs in alpine lees over old hard wind slab or previous wind scoured rock. The mid-pack is around 80cm thick above a thin crust near the ground in some locations. Rain and warm temperatures are eating away the snowpack at the lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control on Parker Slabs on Monday produced thin wind slabs not propagating far. A few small natural slab avalanches out of steep lee features were also observed. Also a notable large avalanche off Whistler Mountain running to mid path near Jasper.

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.