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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2024–Mar 27th, 2024

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, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Although conditions have improved, this is not the time to be skiing aggressive lines, as evidenced by the close call on Sunday (see Avalanche Summary). The bottom half of the snowpack is made up of large facets and multiple buried crusts exist within the snowpack. These are still very much skier-triggerable with a Moderate hazard rating.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observed or reported today.

One skier triggered avalanche size 3 occurred in Tent Bowl on Sunday. The avalanche was triggered after the fourth turn and the skier was carried down with it and buried up to their neck, but without any injuries. The avalanche depth varied from thin to thick with evidence of the March 20 interface, the February 2 crust, the basal facets and the ground. Some of the blocks were the size of a Ferrari. Please see the MIN report at https://avalanche.ca/map?panel=mountain-information-network-submissions%2F3a547b44-ea29-11ee-97c1-0a58a9feac02

Snowpack Summary

Surface crusts have formed on all terrain that is even slightly tipped towards the sun. On northerly aspects there is 15-20cm of recent storm snow. Winds have created some wind slabs in the alpine, including some reverse wind loading by northerly winds. All of this is overlying the March Temperature crust(down about 20cm) that is found on all aspects except high pure north alpine areas. So far, the bond with the new snow and the underlying crust is good. Deeper in the snowpack the February 3rd crust still exists but avalanche activity on this layer has decreased since the warm temps last week have settled out the snowpack. Recent snow profiles show that over half of the snowpack is made of large basal facets. It is still worth digging and poking down to evaluate this layer.

Weather Summary

We are already in a Spring pattern with cold nights, warm days and convective flurries. Wednesday is expected to bring a mixed bag of clouds, scattered flurries and of course, some sun. Winds will around the 40km/hr at ridgetop, along with a freezing level of 2200m.

Be aware that when the sun does come out it packs a punch at this time of year and snow stability will quickly deteriorate on the solar aspects. Thin cloud can also lead to a "Greenhouse Effect" that can make the upper snowpack moist and unstable. Lots going on in Spring!

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

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.

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.