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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 30th, 2016–Jan 31st, 2016

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Conservative terrain choices are the thing to be doing right now.  Backing off is also a better option then riding a slide down....

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods.Precipitation: Nil.Alpine temperature: High -10 °C.Ridge wind northwest: 10 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

A few naturals up to sz 2 out of steeper rocky terrain that may have been solar triggered during the middle of the day.  Otherwise there is still a surprising lack of natural avalanche activity on the January 6th interface.  Winds increasing may initiate an increase in natural avalanche activity to keep an eye on localized wind affects.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow fell overnight with generally light winds.  Over the past few days 15-20cm of new snow has fallen.  This snow has not seen much wind yet but the previous windslabs from earlier in the week are now hidden by this recent storm.  Easy-Moderate sheers were being noted within the recent storm snow as well as at the January 6th interface down 40-50cm.  These hidden windslabs and persistent slabs are more prevalent at treeline and above and are most likely to be triggered from a thinner snowpack area where the weak facetted crystals are more sensitive to light loads such as a skier.  Today forecasters turned around on a feature at treeline due to concerns associated with the persistent slab.

Problems

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.

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.