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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 28th, 2020–Feb 29th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Hopefully we will see the forecasted snow tomorrow. 15cm will be plenty to recharge a tired snowpack and make for better skiing. Read the problems section carefully as there are some important details regarding snow rate and underlying surfaces.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Snow is on its way. Tonight we'll see snow starting around midnight. By 8am some forecasts say we'll get as much as 12cm. By mid afternoon we'll see 15cm. Alpine winds will also increase to 60km/hr with valley bottom seeing light winds. In both cases, they'll be out of the SW. Temps will also fall to -10 for the day.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

Lots of solar radiation crept through the clouds today. All aspects up to 1900m had moist snow and solar aspects up to 2100m also had moist snow. There may be a crust on steep solar tomorrow. Keep that in mind as the new snow arrives! Other than that we're seeing very little change overall. Windslabs on the top, a well settled mid pack and a loose bottom layer. Cornices are building and may shed a layer with tomorrow's new snow.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.

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.