Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 16th, 2019–Nov 17th, 2019

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Jasper.

Some new snow at higher elevations. This will blanket early season hazards and riders are urged to remain cautious.

Weather Forecast

A strong front will continue tracking across the bulletin region for the next 24 hours with forecasted precip through Sunday to 18mm. Freezing levels rising to over 1800m which will mean rain in the valley bottoms like the Jasper and Maligne Valleys. For more details: Avalanche Canada's, Mountain Weather Forecast.

Snowpack Summary

Variable surfaces including temp/rain crust, wind press and loose snow sit above the recently developing November rain crust which may go as high as 2200m. Total snow pack height in alpine is around 45-85 cm. Wind pressed/scoured features to wind slabs in lee features in the high alpine. Cross loaded gulleys may threaten ice climbs from above.

Avalanche Summary

Wind transport in the high alpine peaks and ridge tops is expected to increase hazard in isolated areas.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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.