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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 21st, 2021–Nov 22nd, 2021

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

Strong to extreme south-west winds expected to add load to the recently formed wind slabs and persistent slab as there is still a lot of snow available for transport.Pay extra attention to cross loaded features.

Weather Forecast

Monday: Flurries. Accumulation: 8 cm. Alpine temperature: High -6 °C. Wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.Tuesday: Isolated flurries. Precip: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -7 °C. Wind west: 15-35 km/h.Wednesday: Isolated flurries. Precip: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -10 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15-35 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme SW winds heavily affecting any surface snow. The snowpack has now formed persistent slab in sheltered areas and wind slab particularly in wind loaded features. A 2cm thick crust 80cm down is found up to 2500m or higher. Weak facets below the crust result in sudden collapse test results.

Avalanche Summary

Today's patrol down the Parkway did not observe any new avalanches. Friday's team observed two size 2 persistent slab avalanches on windloaded features in the alpine and treeline.

Confidence

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.

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.