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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 28th, 2021–Mar 1st, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Wind slabs and more wind on Monday is the theme. Take the time to investigate the wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline.

Good skiing has been found in sheltered areas.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Generally warmer temperatures for the week. Monday's high in the alpine will be -4c, along with up to 100km/hr westerly winds. The good news is that around midday on Monday flurries will begin and hopefully leave us with 10cm of snow by the end of day on Tuesday.

It is March now and the sun has a lot of strength. If the sun comes out, expect moist snow on southerly aspects and of course that would be a crust in the morning hours.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed.

Snowpack Summary

The forecasters dug a profile at treeline today and found about 10-20cm of loose snow overlying a 20cm wind slab and did produce a clean sheer. There was evidence of several other generations of wind slabs as well. Generally a well consolidated snow pack but worth digging and looking at the top meter before committing to bigger lines. The alpine sure looked loaded by wind and will get another dose of it on Monday. These wind slabs and the loading in the alpine is the reason we are rating the hazard at "Considerable".

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.

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.