Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Avoid all avalanche terrain. Special Public Avalanche Warning in effect.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Avalanches have been occurring almost everyday this week. This is the time to avoid all avalanche terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Extreme winds on Thursday have continued to add to the wind slab problem. All S, E and N aspects have wind slabs at Alpine and Treeline elevations which rest on the delicate Jan 30th interface made up of facets, sun crust or a dense slab layer. At lower elevations, there is also a storm slab or "settlement slab" that overlies the Jan 30th layer. All elevations show snowpack conditions that are sensitive to human triggering. Travelling at lower elevations involves ski penetration to ground if you leave any established trail.
You take all this and then add a high freezing level and sunny skies. You now have conditions that are even more prime for human triggering of avalanches.
Click here for more info: https://avalanche.ca/spaw/96cc7f76-2ee1-417f-ac03-afe25836da22
Weather Summary
Friday will be a mix of sun and cloud and Spring like temperatures. Freezing level is expected around 2200m. Even higher freezing levels and sunnier skies are expected for Saturday and Sunday.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.
- Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slab are continuing to grow and are reactive.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Storm Slabs
Recent snow and warm temps have formed a "settlement slab" at lower elevations. This slab sits on a very thick layer of weak facets, and is prone to human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2