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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 1st, 2021–Dec 2nd, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

The storm continues into Thursday with 25cm of snow and strong winds. A natural avalanche cycle is on-going. Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Another 25cm of snow is expected by Thursday afternoon. With freezing levels dropping, this snow should get progressively drier. Winds remain in the strong to extreme range from the West. Friday looks like a dry and much colder day with light winds.

Avalanche Summary

Observations were extremely limited today due to severe weather, but it is expected a natural avalanche cycle is on-going.

Snowpack Summary

No field observations today as the highway was not drivable (sheer ice in many places). Weather stations at 2200m indicate 30mm of rain from Wednesday morning to afternoon, with only 10cm of snow. The freezing level was likely higher than this, so forecasters expect heavy wet snow extending up into the Alpine. With the continued snowfall, dropping temps and strong winds through Wednesday night and Thursday, it is expected that Alpine areas will have a fresh round of sensitive wind slabs. Conditions through the treeline elevation band will be highly variable and probably involve some sort of newly formed buried crust once temperatures finally drop. Expect rain runnels at lower elevations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of strong wind.
  • Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.
  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.

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.