Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 26th, 2022–Nov 27th, 2022

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, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Small refreshes of snow are welcomed. Remember its only November and hazards such as rocks and logs are just covered.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lots of snow moving around with the wind, but no visible slab activity,

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow with warm temps and rapid settlement has fallen over the past 24hrs. This new snow is overlying a variety of snow surface from crust on solar aspects, to facets on more northern aspects and hard wind slabs in many areas. Due to the warmer temps during which this snow fell, this snow should bond to the underlying surface fairly well. The hazards that were evident yesterday are now just buried under the snow surface. Watch for windslabs in alpine terrain especially where the new snow is overlying the weaker surface facets. Telling depths are still fairly low for this time of year with only 50-70cm of snow at treeline.

Weather Summary

Colder air is coming along with 10cm of snow and Cloudy sky's. Moderate SW winds gusting in to the strong range.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.
Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.