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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 23rd, 2012–Nov 24th, 2012

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Keep a close eye on winds over the next 24hrs as there is currently lots of recent snow available for transport. This will be the last weekend the road is open at Highwood pass.

Confidence

Good - Wind speed or direction are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

A cold front is pushing across the forecast region and as a result we will see decreasing temperatures over the next 24hrs and the winds will become more NW'erly. Light snowfalls will occur throughout teh weekend but accumulations are not forecast to be significant.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed over the past 24hrs. It was tough to get a good look up and into the Alpine during Fridays field day.

Snowpack Summary

Upper snowpack continues to settle with mild temperatures. Sheers in the storm snow persist but are becomming more resistant in nature. 1106crust down 60cm and a layer of facets is developing above and below this layer. Sheers in the upper snowpack may step down to the deeper 1106cr. Moist facets were noted at the ground level. Still lots of variability in snowpack depths throughout the region. Highwood pass area did not get as much new snow in this recent storm.

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.