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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2020–Mar 20th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Please make conservative choices. Now is not the time for an accident. The current pandemic is overloading the medical system and could affect backcountry rescue response. Intense solar radiation will decrease stability later in the day especially on solar aspects.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Cloudy conditions overnight will help keep temps warmer before clear skies prevail tomorrow around mid day. No new snow is forecast and freezing levels are expected to be around 2200m. Watch for solar radiation to decrease stability especially on solar aspects. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations on Thursday but observations were also limited. 

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of recent snow overlies a sun crust on solar aspects and previously formed wind slabs everywhere else. These buried wind slabs are found at all elevations and extend into open areas all the way to valley floor. The slabs are failing at a depth of about 20cm, which is making for generally poor quality skiing. Cornices are larger than normal. Although they haven't been active recently, any corniced area or slopes below should be avoided. Stability changes during the day based on incoming solar radiation. As the snowpack warms up, it becomes less stable. These decreases in stability on most noteable on steep solar aspects so plan you trip to avoid these areas later in the day.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating, travel early on exposed slopes.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.
  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.