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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2022–Jan 13th, 2022

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

Regions

Jasper.

Rapidly rising freezing levels is stressing our sensitive snowpack.

The Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake Road are closed Thursday for avalanche control.

Anticipate full reopening on Friday. Check AB511 for details.

Weather Forecast

Overnight: Flurries: 9 cm. Temp: Low -3 °C. SW: 20-40 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Trace. Temp: High -2 °C. Wind W: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. FZL: 1900 metres.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Temp: Low -10 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h. FZL: 1400 metres.

Snowpack Summary

New snow with strong SW are creating wind effect and building windslabs on leeward slopes. These windslabs are expected to become more reactive as temperature rises. The mid snowpack remains faceted with the December persistent weak layers buried 40-70cm. Basal facets and depth hoar can be found at the base of snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural loose dry avalanches observed on the Icefields parkway and on Maligne lake road over the past 24h

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday

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.

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.