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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2017–Dec 4th, 2017

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

South Rockies.

Pockets of reactive wind slab may exist on northeasterly aspects.

Confidence

Low - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures -10. Ridgetop winds light from the west.Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures -4 and freezing levels 1200 m. Ridgetop winds light with strong gust from the northwestWednesday: Mostly sunny. Alpine temperatures plus 1 degree and freezing levels near 1500 m. Ridgetop winds light-moderate from the northwest. Expect strong alpine temperature inversions starting Wednesday. For more detail please check the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported from this region. There is potential for triggering wind slabs on leeward slopes and dry loose avalanches from steeper terrain features. Smaller avalanches may step down and trigger larger avalanches on buried weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Please submit your observations this weekend to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack remains highly variable with very little information regarding snowpack structure within the region. Average snowpack depths at upper elevations range from 60-110 cm with scoured snow surfaces on southwesterly slopes and deeper pockets of wind slab on northeasterly slopes. Below the surface exists a series of crusts that were buried near the end of November approximately 40 cm and 70 cm down. Deeper in the snowpack a third crust from the end of October exists as a "facet/crust" combo and has been identified as a potential sliding interface where snowpack testing North of the region (Kananaskis Country) is proving hard but sudden collapse results.

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.