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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 14th, 2022–Jan 15th, 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.

Warmth and wind often go hand in hand around here, and tomorrow will be a good example of that. Strong winds will make the alpine travel slightly less than pleasant. 

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

A 6/10 weather day tomorrow, not great...but not terrible either. Minus 8 overnight with a day time high of -6. Thick cloud for most of the day and only a few flurries giving maybe a few centimeters. As for the winds...well, they will be raging. Valley bottom gusts could reach into the moderate range and ridge top winds will be 90km+. 

Avalanche Summary

One sz2.5 was noted in the Goat Range, just behind Spray Lake. It started high and stepped down to what we think is the Dec 2nd crust.

Snowpack Summary

Burstall Pass was our objective for the day. The warmth hasn't had a hugely negative impact on the snowpack. It did cause the top 10-12cm to settle and form either widespread wind slab, or a "settlement" slab. No surface crusts were found today. A profile at treeline had the Dec crust down about 120cm and unreactive to tests. Ski quality is alright, but the snow feels heavy and turns don't come easy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a 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.

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.