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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 18th, 2021–Nov 19th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Pretty good coverage makes it seem more like January at the moment. It seems prudent to reiterate that snowpack information is limited with relatively few observations. Travel like its November, despite the January coverage.

Confidence

Low -

Weather Forecast

High pressure again for tomorrow. We are expecting some light flurries throughout the day, but nothing to write home about. Temperatures will rise to a pleasant -6 with light winds out of the SW,

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new, but lots of activity from the last storm. Interestingly, most of the crowns are are blown in, which makes one think of re-loaded slopes.

Snowpack Summary

The first forecasting field day of the year took us to Highwood Pass today. Snow depths varied, but generally good coverage. There is an obvious crust down 20-30cm in the trees below 2200m. The surface snow is starting to facet out which makes for pretty good travel. Above the 2200m the crust gradually turns into windslabs of varying hardness. It appears the north winds have loaded southern slopes near ridges. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.

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.