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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2020–Jan 25th, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Warm temps, strong SW winds and new snow are building new windslabs in Alpine and treeline areas. Forecasters backed off there objectives today and thought, it can wait till another day. Be thinking about areas that have not slid and the consequences if it does...

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Cooler temperatures are moving into the region overnight and continued flurries also. Total snowfall will be no more than 10cm but the Moderate SW winds at the upper elevations combined with the warm temps are quickly building new windslabs. Light flurries are forecast to continue through the weekend. 

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

The freezing level climbed up to 2200m on Friday with the snow just a touch moist below this elevation. New windslabs were quickly building in open areas at treeline and above and the snowpack had a distinct "cakey" feel with some isolated cracking. Easy sheers were being noted in the new windslabs down 20-30cm and the dec 31st SH/FC layer continues to produce moderate- hard sudden planar sheers down 40-50cm. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack will likely step down the the weak basal layers and be big. Be thinking about consequences.  

Terrain and Travel

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • 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.

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.