Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 18th, 2024–Jan 19th, 2024

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

The deep freeze is finally leaving, bringing sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.

Be cautious as you step outside again, the snowpack has only become weaker with the long cold spell.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous deep persistent slabs up to size 2.5 have been observed in the alpine over the last few days.

Loose dry avalanches up to size 2 in very steep rocky alpine terrain were noted over the past few days. Some are scrubbing to ground.

Saturday

Numerous deep persistent slabs up to size 2.5 have been observed in the alpine over the last few days.

Loose dry avalanches up to size 2 in very steep rocky alpine terrain were noted over the past few days. Some are scrubbing to ground.

Sunday

Numerous deep persistent slabs up to size 2.5 have been observed in the alpine over the last few days.

Loose dry avalanches up to size 2 in very steep rocky alpine terrain were noted over the past few days. Some are scrubbing to ground.

Snowpack Summary

About 10cm of snow fell on Tuesday. Tree line snowpack depth is an average of 45-75cm. There is variable wind effect from previous northerly winds. The snowpack is weak and largely unsupportive.

Saturday

About 10cm of snow fell on Tuesday. Tree line snowpack depth is an average of 45-75cm. There is variable wind effect from previous northerly winds. The snowpack is weak and largely unsupportive.

Sunday

About 10cm of snow fell on Tuesday. Tree line snowpack depth is an average of 45-75cm. There is variable wind effect from previous northerly winds. The snowpack is weak and largely unsupportive.

Weather Summary

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -11 °C. Light ridge wind. Freezing level at valley bottom. Alpine temperature inversion.

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

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.