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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2022–Apr 8th, 2022

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

New snow is forecast for tomorrow with 5-8cm expected. Important things to consider at this time of year is freezing levels, and quality of freeze overnight as the clouds move in. Rain at lower elevations will deteriorate the stability quickly, especially with a poor freeze. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

A return to winter again for Friday with snow forecast to begin around noon. Amounts will only be 5-8cm but what will be important to note will be the freezing level. This snow may fall as rain at lower elevations which will rapidly deteriorate the snowpack so pay close attention. Winds will be out of the SW pushing into the moderate range so pay close attention to what's going on up higher. 

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet slides on solar aspects up to sz 2. 

Snowpack Summary

An average of 20cm of recent storm snow is found at Treeline, which remains dry and low density on polar aspects, and turning moist, crusty and rugged on solar aspects up to the alpine. The recent snow appears well bonded to the layers below, but isolated pockets of wind slab are found in the Alpine. Watch for new windslabs developing in the alpine with the incoming snow and if rain falls at lower elevations, stability will be poor. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Rain or periods of intense solar radiation can rapidly enhance the effects of warming.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.