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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2021–Apr 14th, 2021

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Solar aspects could see hazard levels into the CONSIDERABLE range on Wednesday due to intense solar input. Start early and finish early! A winter-type snowpack remains on polar aspects with wind slabs as the main concern.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Another beautiful day is expected on Wednesday with sunny skies, warm temps and light NE winds. The April sun will feel intense and freezing levels will climb to 2250m.

Avalanche Summary

Only pin-wheeling observed today in solar terrain, but field teams left the field early, so we may have missed the peak of solar activity. No new slab avalanches in the past 24hrs.

Snowpack Summary

A few more cm's fell in the last 24hrs. The storm snow over the past week now totals between 40 and 60cm and is settling rapidly on solar aspects. This time of year is the "tale of two snowpacks." On the solar side, the mornings are crusty, but this crust melts rapidly in the April sun. Today the top 5cm of the snow was moist by midday making for sticky ski conditions and increasing avalanche hazard. On the polar aspects, the snowpack is more wintery in nature with wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain in the Alpine and wind prone areas at Treeline. Recent human and naturally-triggered avalanches on northerly aspects indicate that wind slabs are still a concern. Cornices are also large and looming and deserve respect, especially in the blazing sun.

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.

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.