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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 20th, 2020–Feb 21st, 2020
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kananaskis.

The stable weather pattern is making for very slow changes in the snow pack. Keep an eye out for crusts on the solar aspects. Other than that, sheltered and shady areas still offer some good skiing.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Clouds will build overnight tonight as temperatures fall to -14. The high alpine winds will be steady at the 70-80km/hr range. Treeline winds will be considerably less, maybe 40km/hr at the most. In both cases, the winds will be out of the south west. As for snow? Not much, a few flurries, but nothing major.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing noted today, however field observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

Not a lot of change lately. Surface and buried windslabs remain the most significant feature of the snowpack. They could be up to 50cm thick in open areas. Most are solid and stubborn to trigger. There are pockets of either moist snow, or sun crusts on steep solar aspects. Beneath the top 50cm, its the same ol' story. A well settled midpack sitting on a weak basal layer. Snow depths are around 150-170cm at treeline.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Variable depth and density of wind slabs throughout the Alpine. These are most concerning in steep, convex and unsupported terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

This is a classic "low probability, high consequence" problem. While it is difficult to trigger, resulting avalanches will be very large. Use caution in shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more of a concern.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3