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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2021–Mar 24th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Watch the winds increasing on Thursday out of the west building new windslabs in alpine areas. Lots of snow is available transport at the upper elevations. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

Winds are forecast to increase into the moderate range out of the SW on Wednesday with light snow also forecast with amounts up 5cm. Temperatures in the daytime are forecast to be around -5C under a mainly cloudy sky.   

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry sluffing on all aspects out of steep alpine terrain up to sz 1.5 

Snowpack Summary

15-20cm of recent snow is overlying the March 19th interface. Winds were generally light to moderate in the Alpine out of the SE and isolated windslabs are building in alpine areas along ridgelines and cross-loaded features. Carefully evaluate the bond with the new snow and the March 19th crust on the solar aspects where the bond is the most susceptible to fast sluffing. AS winds increase on Thursday expect windslabs to become more reactive in alpine areas. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

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.