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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2020–Dec 4th, 2020

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Kananaskis.

We desperately need snow to freshen up the skiing! While we wait, the ice climbing, XC skiing and snowshoeing are still in pretty good shape. Not into those? The front ranges will be warm and dry for a couple of days yet. Hiking or biking are options for a day out.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

A daytime high of -4 tomorrow for the Burstall Pass area. No snow, but some thin cloud might form a few flurries near the divide. Fingers crossed! Alpine winds will ne about 45n/hr from teh NW.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing today. 

Snowpack Summary

Alpine areas have been heavily affected by the past week of strong winds and wind slabs are widespread at tree line and above. Ridges and ribs are stripped free of snow while lee and cross-loaded terrain have deep deposits of wind loaded snow. The November crust is down 30-100cm and is producing anywhere from moderate to no results.  

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

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.