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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2013–Feb 4th, 2013

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

A few cm of new snow expected over the next few days and we can expect to see some accumulations throughout the week.  Solar aspects now have a suncrust on them so heads up in these areas!

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Well some long awaited snow looks to be headed our way.  The three day forecast has close to 15cm of snow expected but on Monday, we can expect to only see a few.  Temperatures will be seasonal and winds will become more westerly and finally begin to ease back into the moderate range.  15cm of snow will be a pleasant change but another 15cm on top of that would be what we need to "Heal" many areas up to make the skiing good once again!

Avalanche Summary

There was evidence of several loose wet slides up to sz 1 on steep solar aspects that occurred with Saturdays heat wave.  Winds kept the temps down on Sunday and as a result no new natural avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

Winds were continuing to HOWL on Sunday and what little bits of available snow are available were being re-distributed and sublimated!  The little bits of soft snow we did find were quickly turning into hard slabs.  We did find the 0106SH in a quick profile below treeline and it was coming out CTE(SP) in stability tests.  This is still a good reminder pockets of this persistent are still being found below treeline in sheltered areas.  Sun crusts are being encountered on solar aspects up to 2400m.

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.