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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2016–Mar 8th, 2016

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

Regions

Jasper.

Avoid steep unsupported slopes.

Weather Forecast

Freezing level 1500m and light flurries next few days. Temperatures will be seasonal with relatively good overnight freeze. Winds expected to be light SW.

Snowpack Summary

Expect wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain above 2000m. The persistent slab is down 40-70cm and is easily triggered in the Whistler/Portal areas even on low angle slopes but is stubborn in the Icefields. Lower elevation snowpack is facetted and weak.

Avalanche Summary

No field patrol Monday. Previous reports of numerous remotely triggered avalanches to size 2 on slope angles as little as 15 deg around Marmot Pass along with widespread whumphing and cracking. Whumphing and cracking also noted in the Maligne area. In contrast, no reports of any propagations in the Icefields area.

Confidence

Problems

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.

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.