Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 14th, 2020–Dec 15th, 2020

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper.

The incoming storm will likely make the good skiing we have even better, but watch for changing conditions, especially if the amount of new snow or wind is more than forecasted.

Weather Forecast

Parker Ridge Area

Tuesday: Flurries. Accumulation: 6 cm. Alpine temperature: High -8 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h.

Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 5 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -7 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Surface Hoar has been steadily growing on the previous storm snow, which is now unconsolidated and faceting with the cold temps. This overlies a variety of old surfaces ranging from hard wind slab, facets and crusts on steep solar aspects. The bottom of the snowpack is continuing to facet.

Avalanche Summary

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

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.