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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 13th, 2018–Feb 14th, 2018

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.
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 winds were raging today! The alpine has taken the brunt of it, but even the low elevation areas had some slabs develop. Good skiing is out there, but it will take some searching.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

The winds will taper overnight tonight. Tomorrow they are "only" 45km/hr from the west. Temperatures will remain consistent with today's, and hover around -13°. Flurries will bring up to 6cm throughout the day tomorrow.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme winds have stripped most of the available snow and formed stiff wind slabs on all lee aspects. The winds have come from west to north aspects which has made a reverse loading pattern. Luckily these areas are easily identified once seen. So far the alpine has been the most wind effected, but treeline also has widespread slabs. Even valley bottom areas have felt the winds. Many avalanche crowns from last week have filled in.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.