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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2020–Dec 21st, 2020

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

Regions

Jasper.

Up to 50cm of new snow has fallen over the past several days. It will need time to stabilize. Be cautious of wind effected areas on all aspects

Weather Forecast

Monday and Tuesday: Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries with trace precip. Alpine temps as low as -12 °C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Tues through Fri: A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -8 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50cm of low density storm snow over last few days. SW winds continue to build wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. Decomposing surface hoar down 30cm to 50cm in sheltered locations treeline and below. The midpack is generally supportive with a weaker base consisting of facets and depth hoar. Avg depth is 65cm - 160cm depending

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on Parkers and Gravel Slopes today we had stubborn results, 2 out 14 avalauncher rounds produced up to size 2. Hand charging on gravel slopes no significant results. Several natural avalanches out of crossloaded wind effected alpine terrain up to size 3. Cornices continue to build at ridgetop but no observed failures.

Confidence

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.

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.