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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2020–Feb 24th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Lots of variation in snow quality lately. Some areas are hanging in there with good snow, while others are tougher to ski. Low elevation, sheltered areas seem to be the best bet for decent skiing.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

The southwest flow will continue tomorrow. There will be variable winds early in the day, but eventually the light winds will settle to a westerly flow. The temps will be consistent at -12 to -8. We are expecting some light snow, some areas may get up to 8cm's overnight. The flurries will likely be convective in nature, so expect local amounts to vary. It should be a cloudy day...very similar to today.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Convective flurries have given us bit of snow lately. Not enough to reset the skiing, but enough to take the edge off the surface crust down low. Speaking of crusts, the rain crust is very apparent up to 1950m and slightly higher on solar aspects where we have a sun crust. So far these crusts haven't been a problem. The other issue is the widespread wind slabs. Any open areas seems to have a healthy windslab that was sometimes breaking as we skied. In general the mid pack is well settled, but we did experience a more "traditional" Rockies snowpack today around Mt. Murray. This area was thin and very weak. We often sank to ground while walking up. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

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.