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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2013–Mar 25th, 2013

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Solar radiation is a real concern. South and West aspects will become more sensitive to triggering in the afternoon and cornices should be treated with caution. Be aware of overhead terrain.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunny skies with light W to NW winds for the next couple of days. Temperatures in the alpine will range between -12 and -10 on Monday. No precipitation is expected.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated sluffing in steep terrain, including one small Nc release that pulverized in the cliff bands below. One size 2.0 slab avalanche on a steep E aspect at 2600m occurred in the past 24hrs. Minor snowballing on steep S and W aspects in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Crusts are melting and re-forming on S, SW and W aspects with the diurnal temperature swings, getting slightly thicker each day. On N and E aspects between 5 and 20cm of recent snow overlies a variety of buried slabs. These slabs are a concern in steep, unsupported terrain. Snowpack is generally weak in sheltered areas below treeline.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.