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.
Strong NW winds and warm temps over the next few days will create ideal conditions for slab development. We may see another round of natural avalache activity initiate with the forecasted winds.
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
Temperatures are forecast to increase on Monday and as a result, we can also expect winds to increase out of the NW. No new snow is forecast to fall. There is a weak inversion forcast for overnight on sunday as the warm air pushes into the region.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous sz 2 slabs were observed along the base of cliff bands in terrline terrain and above (2400m and up). The majority of these avalanches was on N through E aspects. These slabs all appeared to fail within the storm snow and there was no evidence of any activity stepping down to the basal facets and depth hoar.
Snowpack Summary
Cool temps have tightened up the upper snowpack and slowed the settlement of the new snow. Rutschblock was done today by Field teams on a SE aspect at 2300m on a 35 deg slope. The recent storm snow failed at 3 during the test and the main part of the block failed down 50cm at the "midpack" depth hoar facet interface. See video here
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.