Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
High freezing level over the weekend will continue to cause avalanche danger to remain elevated. Special Public Avalanche Warning in effect.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Continued natural avalanche activity on all aspects up to sz 2. Mainly failing on the Jan 30th interface but also stepping down to ground in lower elevations.
Snowpack Summary
All S, E and N aspects have wind slabs at Alpine and Treeline elevations which rest on the Jan 30th interface made up of facets, sun crust or a dense slab layer. In lower elevations the snowpack has settled into a persistent slab overlying the weak January layers. All elevations show snowpack conditions that are sensitive to human triggering. Travelling at lower elevations involves ski penetration to ground if you leave any established trail.
You take all this and then add a high freezing level and sunny skies. You now have conditions that are even more prime for human triggering of avalanches.
Click here for more info: https://avalanche.ca/spaw/96cc7f76-2ee1-417f-ac03-afe25836da22
Weather Summary
See table. Note high freezing levels.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.
- Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
- Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.
- Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slab are continuing to grow and are reactive.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Wet
Watch for loose wet avalanches out of steeper terrain as the day warms. These may also initiate the windslab/persistent slab problem on underlying slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
Recent snow and warm temps have formed a "settlement slab" at lower elevations failing on the Jan 30th interface . This slab sits on a very thick layer of weak facets, and is prone to human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2