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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2021–Dec 10th, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Watch for variable winds that don't match the forecast, today had an unexpected wind pattern that loaded slopes from the north.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tomorrow will be cloudy with flurries, but no significant accumulation. Winds will remain westerly, but pick up early afternoon with 60km/hr winds expected at summit elevations. Temperatures will be between -16 and -11.

Some forecasts are suggesting another storm on Saturday. We will see if this happens, but be aware that hazard levels are based on this expected snow.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Thankfully the crust has been buried with about 10cm at valley bottom and up to 30cm at treeline. It also felt like the crust was a bit softer, or facetted out. Our ski edges could cut into it which helped the ski quality. At about 2150-2200m the crust predictably disappeared and the snowpack felt quite good in sheltered areas. Once in more exposed treeline areas, the windslabs appeared. At the moment immediate lee areas at treeline feel the spookiest. Overall the alpine looks very wind affected, especially on north aspects, but there are some sheltered areas up against the major faces where the wind affect is less.

Terrain and Travel

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.