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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2013–Apr 8th, 2013

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, 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.

Fresh storm slabs at treeline and above. A skier triggered avalanche occurred today on Tent Ridge in a wind-loaded feature. Photo on Facebook. Cool temperatures on Monday should keep the crusts "locked up" at lower elevations.

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Flurries will continue overnight and into tomorrow, but accumulations should be less than 10cm. Winds are expected to be light from the East on Monday and temperatures will be cool.

Avalanche Summary

The past several days have seen wet avalanches (both slab and loose) up to size 2.0, especially at lower elevations. Today a skier accidental slab size 2.0 was triggered in the North Bowl of Tent Ridge. This occurred on a steep E aspect at 2350m and was approximately 50cm deep at its deepest point in a wind loaded feature. There appeared to be at least one partial burial, but we can not confirm this. All parties are accounted for.

Snowpack Summary

9cm of new snow and up to 25cm of recent storm snow on high altitude N aspects with light rain at lower elevations. Storm slabs between 20 and 40cm thick are present in lee and cross-loaded terrain at treeline and above. Otherwise crusts are dominant on all but high elevation N aspects. Cornices remain large and sagging.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.