Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 31st, 2020–Feb 1st, 2020

Alpine
Widespread avalanches certain.
Treeline
Widespread avalanches certain.
Below Treeline
Widespread avalanches certain.
Alpine
Widespread avalanches certain.
Treeline
Widespread avalanches certain.
Below Treeline
Widespread avalanches certain.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

Jasper.

Stay out of avalanche terrain!

The Icefields Parkway and the Maligne Lake road are closed until avalanche control efforts can be completed. Check 511.alberta.ca/ for updates.

Weather Forecast

Heavy snow overnight Friday, 35 cm accompanied by Strong to Extreme SW winds

Saturday will have heavy snow through the morning with an additional 25 cm with Strong to Extreme SW winds. The temperatures and wind drop abruptly in the afternoon.

Sunday will be clear skies and -20 C .

See Weather synopsis here: Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Continuing strong SW winds have created wind slab (Soft to hard) tree line and above. Most fetches are stripped. This overlies a weakening mid-pack comprised of varied facet forms. This provides some questionable bridging over the basal facets and DH. HS average at TL: ~145cm Everything changes tonight with a 60cm storm forecasted.

Avalanche Summary

Surprisingly little activity observed along the Parkway on Friday. 1 Size 2 windslab was observed on Churchill N start zone (Alp, NE aspect, 40 deg slope).

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.