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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2020–Jan 28th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Good skiing with settled snow can be found in sheltered areas of tree line and below. The alpine has widespread wind slabs.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday is expected to be a mix of cloud and sun with a chance of flurries. In the alpine, temps will be between -6c and -9c with light to moderate SW winds. Wednesday looks like a carbon copy of Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

The alpine has widespread wind slabs that carry into the tree line (specific to ridges). The top 50cm of the snowpack is made up mostly of buried wind slabs that are still producing sheers. These will settle out with time but presently, still a concern for triggering them in the alpine and along ridges and lee features. This can cause the basal weakness to wake up and produce large avalanches. The weak temperature gradient within the snowpack is having a positive effect on the snowpack over the long haul. The basal facets/crust combo 40cm off the ground will be on our radar for a long time

Terrain and Travel

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at and above treeline.

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.