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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2020–Jan 1st, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Happy new year! Not much changing in the snowpack currently but a storm is forecasted to reach the region on Saturday with new snow and winds. 

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Friday is looking to be warm and windy (moderate to strong SW) ahead of the front that is forecast to arrive on Saturday and give us some much needed snow over the weekend. Forecast amounts vary between 10-25cm of snow expected.  

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Thursday. 

Snowpack Summary

For December its s good snowpack! The main concern is the generations of windslabs that currently exist in the upper snowpack. As you transition from the trees into the more wind affected treeline and alpine be looking for these windslabs and be thinking about thick to thin snowpack areas. Thin weak areas will be the most likely places to trigger these windslabs that may also step down to the basal november crust. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Be aware of the potential for wide propagation.

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.