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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2020–Mar 8th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

The avalanche cycle continues. Avoid avalanche terrain and be mindful of overhead hazard as the potential exists for avalanches to run long distances. Good skiing in sheltered areas.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Another 10cm is possible through Saturday night before a slight clearing trend Sunday morning. Flurries will move back in on Sunday afternoon. Temperatures should reach about -11 in the Alpine with moderate SW winds. Monday should be mainly sunny.

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle is ongoing, but very poor visibility is making it difficult to get a sense of the scale of the cycle. Ski cutting in terrain at lower elevations is producing size 1.0 sluffs that are starting to get enough mass to push a person into a terrain trap such as a tree well or a gully.

Snowpack Summary

25cm of new snow in the past 24 hours. This new snow sluffs easily with ski cutting in steep terrain below treeline. This weeks storm snow is settling slightly but now totals between 60 and 80cm at Treeline elevations. Alpine areas are dominated by widespread wind slabs, and Treeline zones have significant slab conditions in lee and cross-loaded terrain. These slabs have been failing naturally and are very sensitive to human triggering in steep, convex and/or unsupported terrain.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.

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.