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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2020–Dec 22nd, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

The snowpack is currently adapting to a large load in a short period of time, As the sky's clear and the powder calls, keep your guard up and assess each slope with a critical eye and work through the terrain with a conservative approach.

Weather Forecast

A final pulse of snow (10cm) is expected tonight before tapering off for the holidays. Winds will continue to gust to 50km until Tuesday afternoon when the winds finally abate to light SW winds at ridge tops.

Tuesday and Wednesday will see a mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation expected

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50cm of low density storm snow over last few days. SW winds continue to build wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. Decomposing surface hoar down 30cm to 50cm in sheltered locations treeline and below. The midpack is generally supportive with a weaker base consisting of facets and depth hoar. Avg depth is 65cm - 160cm depending

Avalanche Summary

A field team in the Hilda area today noted no new avalanches. In test pits they were observing Resistent planner results in the storm snow only. In the alpine they observed good skiing in sheltered locations and found wind effected snow in proud and open area's with no reactivity.

Marmot had 1 Sz 2.5 wind slab out of steep Northerly cliffy terrain.

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.