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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 7th, 2019–Dec 8th, 2019

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Warm temps, ongoing wind and flurries are creating new slabs as we speak. Make frequent observations to help paint a complete picture of the snowpack's character.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Another 5-8 cm is expected tonight. Unfortunately the cold will make a come back with morning lows somewhere around -20. Winds will be light out of the SW

Avalanche Summary

Snowpack Summary

The Oct and Nov crusts were very apparent in today's field trip. Both layers were ice and buried about 40cm. This area was likely an anomaly during the warm spell, so expect the crust character to be very different elsewhere. In some areas the crusts have completely faceted out. Wind effect is apparent in any open area with soft windslabs being widespread. The snowpack had a distinct "punchy" or "cakey" feeling to it today. Travel is tedious and difficult up to about 2000m.  

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.