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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2021–Apr 14th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

Forecast reflects the highest probable hazard for the day.

Expect varied conditions depending on aspect and elevation. Early starts and finishes to the day is still the best way to avoid the highest hazard period.

Weather Forecast

A wonderful blocking ridge over Northern BC and Alberta will cycle the first real kiss of spring conditions into the whole region, including the Icefields Parkway. Positive daytime temperatures, light winds, strong solar and rising freezing levels to as high as 2500m can be expected daily, and for the near future.

Snowpack Summary

Varied surface conditions though the region. In the Icefields, the mid-pack is firm and bridging a weaker, lower snowpack. Shallow regions like Maligne, and all BTL locations are susceptible to wide, diurnal temperature swings (up to ~30 degree temp. difference), making for extremely weak, wet, hazardous conditions, especially on any solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

A few cornice failures in the Whistlers area observed pulling deeper slabs. One notable, large avalanche running to ground off the north face of Manx Peak. These are good reminders that large slab avalanches up to size 3 are still occurring within the bulletin region from the alpine, traveling well into TL and BTL terrain with momentum.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.