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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2012–Dec 13th, 2012

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.

Not much new snow in the forecast for a few days.  Watch for pockets of windslabs around ridgecrests and in steeper or unsupported terrain.  The days are now less that 8hrs of Daylight!  Pack a thermos and a headlamp!

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

THe high pressure ridge will continue to dominate the forecast region.  Winds will continue to be light with generally only small accumulations of new snow.  Cool temps will persist.

Avalanche Summary

A few small slabs on N and E aspects up to size 2.  The majority of slabs that were observed came out of 40+deg terrain and were likely triggerred by wind loading. 

Snowpack Summary

Down flow winds have created pockets of windslabs in some areas.  Higher elevation terrain has windslabs up to 30cm thick in most open wind affected areas.  These slabs are not only on N and E aspects but also on more southern aspects due to NW winds earlier in the week.  The midpack is overall, well settled with no prominent weak layers and the 1106CR is down 100cm and only producing sheers in the hard range.

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.