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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2016–Feb 4th, 2016

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Windslabs are the major concern these days. The alpine slabs are variable and require some attention.

Confidence

High - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Mainly cloudy. Alpine low of -14. SW winds 35km/hrTomorrow: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine high -8. West winds 40km/hr with gusts up to 75km/hr

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

Below treeline, surface facetting is apparent in the top 10cm. The crust from last week is only evident at lower elevations. The Jan 6th facet/surface hoar layer is down 20-30. Overall the below treeline snowpack is still weak with ski penetration of 10cm. At treeline, open areas have a series of laminated windslabs that had weaknesses within the overall layer. Tests revealed 2 dense wind slabs with facets in between (east compression test, sudden planar). At treeline the Jan 6th facet interface is down 60-80cm and reasonably well bonded in all 3 of today's test profiles (hard compression test, resistent planar). The alpine is still showing the affects of the wind event with distinct cross loading and lee loading patterns. Snow depths at Burstall Pass and Mud Lake is 127 and 92 respectively.

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.