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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2018–Apr 7th, 2018

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Freezing levels are forecast to climb to 2400m throughout the day on Saturday with light snowfalls.  If the sun does poke through the clouds expect stability to decrease on solar aspects. 

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Saturdays forecast is calling for flurries beginning in the afternoon and a warming trend with freezing levels climbing to 2400m later in the day.  Some of this precipitation may fall as rain at lower elevations.  Winds are forecast to be out of the south at 15-30km/hr.

Avalanche Summary

One thin sz 1 windslab was noted near Mt Chester in a steep crossloaded gully on a NW aspect.  Otherwise no new avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

Winds increased overnight on Thursday and stiffened up the previous windslabs that existed in the upper snowpack.  These winds were variable so be on guard for these slabs as you approach ridgelines and around crossloaded features on all aspects.  On friday forecasters encountered these slabs up to 15cm thick in one valley and non-existent in the next valley less than 1km away.  A thin melt freeze crust also developed earlier in the week and can be found on all aspects except true north below 2000m and as high as 2400m on solar.  Cornices are large so travel cautiously around them. 

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.