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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 13th, 2022–Jan 14th, 2022

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

Regions

Jasper.

Slow cooling over the weekend will temper the natural reactivity of the snowpack but, it will remain a serious hazard to riders looking for fresh turns.

Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake road remain closed for maintenance.

AB511 for up to date info.

Weather Forecast

Friday: Mainly cloudy. Temp High -6 °C. Wind SW:15 km/h. FZL to valley bottom

Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Temps: Low -9 °C, High -6 °C. Wind W: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. FZL to valley bottom

Sunday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. 5 cm. Temp: Low -10 °C, High -7 °C. Wind SW: 15-30 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

New snow with strong SW are creating wind effect and building windslabs on leeward slopes. These windslabs are expected to become more reactive as temperature rises. The mid snowpack remains faceted with the December persistent weak layers buried 40-70cm. Basal facets and depth hoar can be found at the base of snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Several large windslabs, and loose dry avalanches initiated with explosive control on the Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake road. Road maintenance ongoing and will take time for both roads to be passable. Downed avalanche patrol though the whole region with varied natural activity noted.

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.

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.