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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2020–Mar 15th, 2020

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.

Avoid exposure to large wind loaded alpine and tree line places!

Weather Forecast

The arctic air has arrived bringing cold temperatures and moderated to strong North and Easterly gusting winds. More detailed forecast at: Mountain weather forecast

Snowpack Summary

Strong NE winds past 36 hrs stripping and redistributing upper snowpack. Wide spread scouring in exposed places. Hard slabs, soft slabs, sastrugi now present. The Icefields area has a well bridged mid pack overlying basal facets and depth hoar. The northern region is weaker with less bridging midpack strength above basals and depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday's field team observed several large natural avalanches to size 3.5 from continued strong NE winds. Running on the ground. Ramp route on Athabasca peak today ran size 3.5 down to ice due to rapid loading. Several other natural and cornice triggered avalanches to size 3 observed on road patrol. Cornices loom large and threatening.

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.

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.