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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2021–Mar 10th, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Watch for wind slabs in alpine and treeline areas, and be mindful of the solar input on sunny aspects. The snowpack is slowly transitioning to Spring conditions, but has a ways to go yet.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will bring mainly cloudy skies with light flurries in the afternoon. Winds will be moderate from the SW and temperatures should reach -5 with freezing levels near 2000m by the afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

Some pin-wheeling was observed on solar aspects around the Bow Valley today. Observations were very limited for the Spray Valley, but no reports have been received of any avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

A very cold start to the day on Tuesday kept the new crusts frozen on solar aspects until the afternoon. Expect a few layers of sun crust on SE through W aspects. On non-polar aspects at Treeline and above there are several generations of wind slab in the upper 60 to 80cm of the snowpack. These slabs are highly variable, and it is worth taking the time to dig down and evaluate the snowpack before committing to bigger terrain. Forecasters are still monitoring the Feb 19 and Jan 27 layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

Problems

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.

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.