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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2013–Dec 21st, 2013

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.

Specific terrain characteristics still pose an avalanche threat. All the usual suspects on the list: steep, thin, windloaded features all deserve careful assessment.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Upper level winds are expected to settle down and take on a more northerly flow. Temperatures will be a bit cooler than today with a large spread between valley bottom and alpine. Cloudy skies for tomorrow with no precip forecasted. The next wave of snow is thought to be arriving on Monday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches

Snowpack Summary

The recent snow has settled quickly in sheltered areas. BTL is still un supportive with ski pens of 20+. At TL & ALP, the winds have formed wind slabs of varying densities. Generally the slabs get stiffer as elevation and proximity to ridges grows.  HS@Burstall pass 86 and HS@Mud Lake 65.

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.