Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2022–Mar 13th, 2022

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

More snow fell in some locations along the spray road then forecasted originally. The skiing was excellent in sheltered locations today. Watch for fresh and buried wind slabs if you enter more exposed terrain.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Sunday is calling for an additional 6-10cm of snow.

Temps are pretty mild (Day time highs of -5) 

The wind is calming down to 10km/h out of the SW

Avalanche Summary

A loose dry cycle to Sz 1.5 was observed off all steep unskiable alpine faces today with the storm snow sluffing off. Some of these were running in to ski terrain. Be alert of the overhead you are traveling in. No signs of slab activity today.

Snowpack Summary

Forecasters were in the Black prince area today in the alpine bowls and were happy to find an unexpected 30cm of storm snow! This snow is settling out very fast with the warm temps. A couple pits were dug at TL and found Moderate shears down 35cm and 80cm. These were both on small facets and did not propagate in extended column test. Otherwise the bond to previous layers is improving with the warmth.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.