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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2020–Jan 20th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Temperatures jumped to -5 today on the Spray Road. Unlike people, it takes the snowpack a day or so get used to the change and sort itself out. In the early stages of the warm spell approach big terrain with caution, especially if it hasn't avalanched lately. 

Confidence

No Rating -

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will continue to rise, with a daytime high of -5 tomorrow. No snow. 40km/hr winds valley bottom with alpine winds around 60km/hr. The wind direction will be SW.

Avalanche Summary

One sz 2.5 was seen in the Ranger Creek drainage. The exact age is unknown, but it appeared fresh.

Snowpack Summary

The winds picked up last night and immediately built new windslabs in the alpine & treeline areas. All eastern aspects have soft slabs that feel hollow. No whumphing or cracking was observed, but we limited our exposure to the higher and windier areas today. A profile at treeline had a snow depth of about 2m with the Dec 31 layer down about 40cm. The deep persistent layer was about 20cm thick and made up of depth hoar and facets.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain as temperatures increase.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.