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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 13th, 2014–Jan 14th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Kananaskis.

A strong westerly flow over the next 48 hours will bring above normal temperatures and the combination will further promote the formation of windslabs which are becoming more reactive to light loads such as a skier.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Snowfall is expected to end by early Tuesday with a High pressure system pushing in from the west.  A strong chinook flow will bring max temps well above normal for most of the forecast area with strong winds continuing over the next 48 hours - wind slab formation will continue.

Avalanche Summary

No new observed due to obscured sky conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Obscured sky conditions limited observations regarding wind transport along ridgetops. Perfect combo of new snow, wind and mild temps creating new windslabs with variable thickness depending upon location and amount of snow in fetch zones.

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.