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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2021–Dec 9th, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

A pulse of snow with continued strong winds have elevated the hazard level. Human triggering of slab avalanches is likely.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Thursday will be cloudy with light flurries. Snow accumulations will likely be less than 5cm. Winds will be strong from the West with daytime temps reaching -14C. The forecast looks similar on Friday, but snowy on Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

Weather conditions limited observations today, but a few avalanches were heard while in the Highwood Pass area.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20cm of new snow in the last 24 hours, with continued strong winds in the Alpine. Field teams observed strong winds from both the north and the south today, so fresh wind slabs are likely forming on all aspects. A number of crusts and a well consolidate snowpack make up the middle of the snowpack. The basal layer of the early November layer of rain crust at lower elevations and facets at upper elevations are still being monitored, but have not been active lately. The overall snowpack is quite different above and below 2150m. Below this elevation the snowpack is essentially frozen layers of previous rain saturated snow. Above this elevation the snowpack is deeper than normal for this time of year and is quite strong through the midpack.

Terrain and Travel

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Be cautious of sluffing.

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.