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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2020–Mar 5th, 2020

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

Regions

South Rockies.

Navigate around wind loaded terrain and avoid big slopes getting hit by the sun.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack. Uncertainty is due to the fact that deep persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Weather Forecast

Dry sunny weather until a storm hits the region on Friday and Saturday.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light to moderate west wind, freezing level drops to valley bottom with alpine temperatures dropping to -10 C.

THURSDAY: Sunny, freezing level climbing from valley bottom to 1800 m in the afternoon, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -1 C.

FRIDAY: Increasing cloud with light flurries in the afternoon bringing up to 5 cm of new snow, freezing level around 1500 m, moderate wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

SATURDAY: Stormy weather with 10-25 cm of new snow, moderate wind from various directions, freezing level at valley bottom with alpine high temperatures around -8 C.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported since last week, but there have been limited field observations. A few natural size 2 wind slabs have been reported on north and east aspects in the neighbouring Kananaskis region.

A very large (size 3) deep persistent slab avalanche was observed north of Sparwood last Friday on a steep southeast facing alpine slope. This follows a pattern of sporadic deep slab releases in the upper Elk Valley including this natural avalanche from Feb 11 and this sled triggered avalanche from Feb 9. These types of large avalanches will be most likely during periods of heavy loading or intense warming.

Snowpack Summary

A storm passing through the region on Tuesday night delivered 5-10 cm to the region with closer to 15-20 cm along the northern parts of the region near Kananaskis Country. This snow was accompanied with strong to extreme wind from the west and formed fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. A crust can be found near the surface up to 2300 m on solar aspects and up to 1700 m on all other aspects, however, but midday Thursday warm sunny weather could melt the surface on these slopes.

A thick rain crust sits 40-80 cm below the surface and can be found up to 2100 m. Avalanche activity was last observed at the faceting interface between this crust and overlying snow on February 17. The mid-pack is well settled and strong, but the base of the snowpack contains basal facets that are most prominent in shallow rocky start zones.

Terrain and Travel

  • Choose gentle slopes without steep terrain above.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.