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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2021–Dec 4th, 2021

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

Regions

Jasper.

The Maligne and Icefields Parkway just opened. Expect the skiing to be sensational but keep your radar on high alert with the new snow input and changing conditions. Keep you exposure low as the new snow needs time to adjust. 

Weather Forecast

Saturday will be cloudy, sunny periods, isolated flurries, -9 C, light ridge wind. Sunday will be similar but colder at -19 °C to -16 °C. Monday will be much the same.

Snowpack Summary

About 40 cm of snow fell from Nov 30 to Dec 1. Light to moderate SW winds are blowing it into wind slabs or stripping windward features to ground. The storm snow came in warm but it surprisingly remains dry and light except at low elevations where it rained. The midpack is supportive over a crust - Facet - depth hoar combo near the ground. 

Avalanche Summary

Friday's patrol noted a reduction in natural activity yet a couple of recent size 3's deep slabs running full path were recorded. Thursday's explosive control work observed an avalanche cycle up to size 3 being wind and deep persistent slabs on the ground or the basal crust. Two size 3s were observed at Maligne north of Joffre Creek on Thursday.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

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.

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.