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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 2020–Mar 7th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Avoid avalanche terrain. An avalanche cycle is ongoing.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Heavy snow is expected on Saturday with as much as 30cm possible by the end of day. Temperatures will fall with the approaching cold front with midday temps near -10. Winds will also decrease slightly with light to moderate SW winds.The storm ends late Saturday bringing a mix of sun and cloud on Sunday.

Avalanche Summary

Ski cutting produces loose dry avalanches up to size 1.0 in steep Treeline terrain. Some small slabs were also triggered in this elevation band on small, non-consequential test features. Visibility was extremely limited in heavy snow all day, but we suspect there is a natural avalanche cycle ongoing.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy snow today and last night has deposited up to 15cm of fresh snow in the past 24 to 36 hours. The recent storm snow is settling and now consists of 40 to 60cm in the past week. The new snow does not appear to be bonding well and is sluffing easily in steeper terrain with ski cutting. In the Alpine and open areas at Treeline there are widespread wind slabs of varying depths and densities. The forecast team today observed cracking and small releases while ski testing in small steep convex features at 2300m.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Be cautious of sluffing.
  • Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.
  • Choose simple, low-angle, well supported terrain without convexities.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.