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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2013–Feb 5th, 2013

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.

The few centimeters of new snow predicted for the next few days mean slow healing to an abused snowpack...does not look like we will get enough new snow to raise avalanche danger.  Watch for sun and wind crusts on exposed slopes.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Very light flurries over the next couple of days with the chance of several centimeters more late in the week...otherwise little change over the next 24-48 hours - mild and mod to strong westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

There was evidence of several loose wet slides up to sz 1 on steep solar aspects that occurred with Saturdays heat wave.  Winds kept the temps down on Sunday and as a result no new natural avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

Light snowfall thru the day but minor accumulations resulting in NO change.  Areas with less than 1 m of snowcover are heavily facetted.  Recent profiles continue to expose occasional pockets of buried SH in scattered areas BTL.

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.