Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2023–Jan 1st, 2024

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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Jasper Visitor Safety wishes everyone a Happy New Year as we patiently wait for more snow in the forecast.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported in the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

Extensive wind effect tree line and above throughout the region, with windward aspects scoured and hard wind pressed snow on lee features. Sheltered areas have a weak faceted snowpack with the early December surface hoar down 20-30cm, and depth hoar making up the bottom 10-30cm. Two thin melt freeze crusts from December (5th and 22nd) warming events exist below 1700m on solar aspects. Average snow depth at tree line is 40-70cm.

Weather Summary

Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -7 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.
Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Problems

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.