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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2013–Feb 7th, 2013

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.

Little change is expected with no precipitation in the forecast. Later in the week sunny periods may be a cause for concern on solar aspects.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Winds will diminish slightly over the next 24hrs, with alpine temperatures near -12. No significant precipitation is in the forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new in the last several days.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 7cm over the last 24 hours. Isolated wind slab development still occurring, but due to extended periods of windy conditions most windward slopes are bare rock. Hard slabs dominate the alpine with pockets of both hard and soft slabs present at treeline. The Jan 6 surface hoar layer is still being found in sheltered locations at lower elevations. This layer continues to produce shears in stability tests, and is something to watch for in steep terrain at treeline and below, especially on N and E 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.

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.