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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 14th, 2012–Dec 15th, 2012

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.

No new snow in the forecast but thankfully a lack of wind!  Our weekly snowpack video is available here. 

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A few weak weather systems are expected to move across the forecast region over the next couple of days.  We arent expecting anything in terms of new snow over the next couple of days are winds are forecasts to continue to be light.  Great days to be out in the hills!  Expect a mix of sun and cloud on Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

There were no new avalanche observations in areas travelled on Friday.  Forecasters were able to see about 50% of the forecast area.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of hard and soft slabs up to 40cm thick at ridgelines and in crossloaded features throughout Alpine areas.  These slabs are overlying a well settled midpack with the 1106 crust down 100cm on average.  This layer did not produce any sheers in snowpack tests on Friday.

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.