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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2014–Mar 22nd, 2014

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

The storm snow from the past few days is settling out and by late Friday has not seen a lot of wind action.  Only a few centimeters of new snow is anticipated over the weekend and skiing conditions are very good.

Confidence

Fair - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

A few centimeters of new snow over Friday night is likely in alpine terrain.  Overnight lows down to -17 degrees and winds light.  Winds on Saturday are forecast to be generally light with gusty periods up to 35km/h.

Avalanche Summary

One new size 2.5 on a west aspect on MT Buller Fracture Line  up to 1 meter thick along flanks.  Debris ran to within 100m of roadway.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow from the past 24+ hours is settling and bonding to the previous surface.  No new windslabs observed in travel in Alpine terrain today around the Tent Ridge area.

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.