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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 21st, 2013–Nov 22nd, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Strong winds are expected to push into the forcast region here tomorrow.  Wind slabs will continue to grown so heads up as you transition into more wind affected areas.  As a side note, travel below treeline is still rugged.....

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

On Friday we can expect temperature to begin to get more seasonal and winds to become strong out of the SW at treeline and above. 

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle has come to an end and no new natural avalanches were observed on Thursday. 

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of HST continues to settle but this is happening very slowly under the influence of the cold temperatures.  In open wind affected area above treeline, recent winds are creating 1F and stiffer windslabs.  No cracking or whumpfing was observed but we didnt venture to far up above treeline areas.  At the base of the snowpack there is a spotty October 27th crust.  Field tests today near a previous skier avalanched slope were giving us CTM(SC) results in a facet layer beneath this crust.  What was troubling was this collapse was essentially, the entire winters snowpack as of yet.

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.