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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2012–Dec 4th, 2012

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

Regions

Jasper.

Weather Forecast

The forecast calls for some significant snowfall in the Icefields area accompanied by moderate Southwest winds. This will start sometime in the early morning and is expected to continue for the following 24 hours. Wednesday is expected to continue with overcast skies and light snowfalls with a possible clearing trend by Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Hard test results were found in the alpine underneath a windslab and both above and below the midpack crust in the Bald hills area near Maligne lake. Treeline has experienced some moderate wind transport although previous windslabs have bonded well.

Avalanche Summary

A size 3 slab was observed in the hilda creek area. It originated from sloughing in a gully feature and expanded into a slab on a large open slope at 2400m that is the runout for the gully.� The slab likely propogated on the November 01 raincrust.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

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.

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.