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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2021–Apr 11th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

The Icefields region remains winter conditions. Good travel and ski conditions are found in sheltered locations. Be cognisant of traveling through lower elevations where large avalanches from above could travel far.

Weather Forecast

Sunday will be sun, cloud, flurries, trace snow, -9C, light NE winds and valley bottom freezing level. Monday will be similar, -10, light East winds and valley bottom freezing level. Tuesday is sun, clouds, warming up to -3C and 2000m freezing level. There will be a warming trend starting Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

25cm of new snow arrived Wednesday night at Parkers ridge with much less further North and South. Winds are increasing to moderate speeds forming alpine ridgetop windslabs. The midpack is firm snow over weak basal facets and depth hoar near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday's Icefield patrol observed several cross loaded features avalanche on PR slope up to size 2.5 likely on Friday. Friday's explosive control work on Parkers slabs produced two size 2.5 hard windslabs burying the road 2m deep. Thursday's Icefield's patrol noted one size 3 on Churchill slide path running full path.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Sunday

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.