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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2016–Feb 7th, 2016

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

The recent squally weather has added 15 cm of new snow accompanied by fierce winds.  There is now a 40-70 cm persistent slab that has made the snowpack ripe for human triggered avalanches. The snowpack is complex so make your terrain choices simple.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods. No new snow. Temperature in the alpine of -7.0. WInds will be moderate to strong from the west - northwest. Freezing levels in the valley bottom for Sunday and for the next few days afterward.

Avalanche Summary

Today's observations were limited due to the hellacious winds and strong convective squalls for most of the morning. We suspect there was a medium sized avalanche cycle very likely in the alpine elevations and some natural avalanche activity at treeline but once again our observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 45 and up to 70 cm is sitting on the top of the Jan 6th facet interface with today's (Feb 6th 2016) new storm snow. The warm temperatures and the strong to extreme gusty winds throughout today means now that the slab overlying the layer will very likely have cohesive characteristics and these wind slabs will be found on lee aspects. Storm slabs overlying the Jan 6th layer will be present everywhere else where the wind has not scrubbed the snow clean off the terrain (i.e. windward prone features such as high ridge lines). The midpack and basal layers of the snowpack are mostly weak except in places at treeline and above where the snowpack has a depth greater than 80 cm and is evenly distributed.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.