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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2020–Dec 21st, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Rapidly changing conditions. Avoid avalanche terrain.   

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Snow expected to begin later tonight bringing 3-8cm . Wind will continue thought the night with gust close to 100km. Snow will increase throughout Monday right in to Tuesday evening could bring 20-25cm.

Avalanche Summary

A few natural slab avalanche up to size 2 on all aspects except for west aspects. There were also a few more loose dry from steeper terrain running quite far. 

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of new snow, with very strong winds lee slopes would have much more snow possibly up to 1m. 20-100cm overlying the Dec 8th facet crust interface. Wide spreed wind affect in Alpine in to open tree line features. Caution for reverse loading with the strong North winds. Found soft to hard slabs. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.