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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 24th, 2020–Feb 25th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

A bit of new snow has refreshed the skiing. Watch for buried wind slabs in steep terrain, as these are widespread at upper elevations. Be aware of changing conditions as winds on Tuesday may form fresh surface wind slabs.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday should bring a mix of sun and cloud with temperatures reaching a high of -7 in the Alpine. Winds will be moderate from the NW, switching to strong from the West later in the day. Wednesday will also bring a mix of sun and cloud with possibly a few flurries.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of low density new snow in the past 24 hours from convective flurries. This snow overlies a variety of previous surfaces including wind slabs in the Alpine and sun crust on solar aspects. The previously formed wind slabs in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline are quite widespread and variable in depth and density. Good quality skiing today at all elevations. Snow profile today at 2200m confirms a strong midpack, but still 40cm of facets and depth hoar on the ground. Stability tests indicate an easy shear under the recent snow, and a hard shear on the basal facets. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

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.