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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2020–Feb 8th, 2020

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.

5-8cm of recent snow has provided some opportunities for good skiing on the previous surfaces. Windslabs are you transition into steep treeline or alpine areas are still within the range of skier triggerability so be heads up the higher you get. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Up to 10cm of snow is forecast to fall overnight and through Saturday with moderate winds that are becoming more northerly by early morning on Saturday. Temperatures will be in the -6C range midday. 

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose dry slides out of extreme terrain up to sz 1. No recent slab activity was noted. 

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow of up to 8cm is covering the Feb 5th Temperature crust up to 2000m. Very little wind affect was noted today but the recent snow is now burying the previous windslabs that are 10-50cm thick in alpine areas. The December 31st Surface hoar layer was found down 85cm at 2200m today and it was hard to trigger but sudden planar in nature (cash register drawer) when affected. The windslabs felt drummy in certain areas as you moved into treeline terrain which prompted forecasters to back off there original objective and seek out mellower terrain. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

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.