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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2021–Apr 13th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

A change in the weather pattern is underway. Watch for rising freezing levels and strong solar radiation to increase avalanche danger.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Sunny. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -2 C. Ridge wind light to 10 km/h. Freezing level: 2000 metres.

Wednesday: Sunny. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -5 C, High 2 C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level: 2400 metres.

Snowpack Summary

Light winds shifting to the north, new sun crust on solar asp to TL and temperature crust all aspects BTL below 1900m. Previous new snow now settled. March 19th crust is buried 10-50cm+ on solar aspects to 2200m. Mid-pack is firm and bridging a weak lower snowpack in deep areas. Weak snowpack particularly where shallow (exposed alpine features).

Avalanche Summary

A few cornice failures in the Whistlers area were pulling deeper slabs on Monday. One noticeable large avalanche running to ground off the north face of Manx Peak. These are good reminders that large slab avalanches up to size 3 are still occurring within the bulletin region in the alpine.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.

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.