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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2020–Mar 19th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Please make conservative choices. Now is not the time for an accident. The current pandemic is overloading the medical system and could affect backcountry rescue response.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud on Thursday with occasional very light flurries. Winds will be light and variable.Temperatures should reach -7 in the Alpine. More of the same is expected Friday and Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

Several new naturally triggered avalanches occurred on the east side of the region (Mt Lawson, Mt Kidd) in the past 24 hours. These slides were up to size 2 and were in the alpine on east aspects.

Snowpack Summary

5cm of new snow fell overnight at treeline, but only a trace was recorded in valley bottoms. This new snow overlies a sun crust on solar aspects and previously formed wind slabs everywhere else. These buried wind slabs are found at all elevations and extend into open areas all the way to valley floor. The slabs are failing at a depth of about 20cm, which is making for generally poor quality skiing. Cornices are larger than normal. Although they haven't been active recently, any corniced area or slopes below should be avoided.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.

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.