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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2021–Mar 31st, 2021

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

Human-triggerable wind slabs in the Alpine. Conservative route selection is in order. The late March sun is intense and will raise avalanche hazard levels on solar aspects quickly. Start early and finish early.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will be a mix of sun and cloud with temperatures climbing to -2 and freezing levels near 2200m. When the sun is out, it will feel intense! Winds will be light to moderate from the west. 

Avalanche Summary

Further evidence of a natural avalanche cycle up to size 2.5 primarily on SE, E and NE aspects. So far these have all been wind slabs, with only very minor and small loose dry avalanches observed.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow of up to 30cm remains dry on northerly aspects, but was moist on the solar side by midday. By morning expect snow on SE through W aspects to have a surface crust. At treeline and below the recent snow is bonding well, but in the Alpine there is a different story. Wind slabs are evident on all aspects except west. The natural avalanche cycle is tapering off, but loaded slopes in the Alpine are primed for human-triggering.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Avoid steep convex slopes.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.