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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2020–Mar 24th, 2020

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

Conservative terrain that avoids any hazard. For the good of us all, be thinking about this as you travel. Or choose not to travel and wait for next year. The current health care system is under enough stress due to COVID19 pandemic don't add to the problems/workload.  

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday is looking to be a cloudy day with light flurries falling. Temperatures will be around -5 at treeline during the day under cloudy skies. Convective flurries seem to be the theme of the week. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed but observations were limited. 

Snowpack Summary

5cm of new snow fell via convective flurries throughout the day under generally light winds. This is now up to 10cm of new snow that has fallen on top of crusts on solar aspects and on dry powder snow on polar aspects. The mid pack is well settled and concerns still exist with basal crusts. Buried windslabs can be expected at ridge lines and remember that human triggering is still possible in steeper terrain...Which you should not be in because we are asking you to dial it back.  

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

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.