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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 2022–Mar 7th, 2022

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Amazing ski quality at the moment on shaded aspects. Wind effect at this point is very isolated to ridge top and cross loaded features. The sun is really starting to pack a punch, Carefully evaluate solar aspects if you choose to ski them.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Clouds are moving in for Monday. Day time highs around -6 with no snow expected. Winds should be fairly light in the valley's and pick up once in exposed alpine terrain.

Avalanche Summary

A wide spread Loose dry cycle out of unskiable steep alpine terrain was noted today. None of these produced a slab avalanche. 

Snowpack Summary

Saturday night delivered about 10cm. Brings the total storm snow amount to 40-50cm. This snow is very low density below 2600m.This is settling fast with the warm temps. High likelihood of a sun crust starting to form on steep solar aspects at treeline elevations. This is sitting on top of a variety of surfaces. Sun crusts on steep solar and hard wind slabs on all other aspects. The bond seems to be improving with the warm temperatures. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.