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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2021–Apr 13th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Solar slopes will see a rapid rise in avalanche danger on Tuesday. Plan your route accordingly.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be mainly sunny with light easterly winds. Temperatures will be near -1 with freezing levels climbing to 2200m. The mid-April sun will pack a punch!

Avalanche Summary

Visibility was limited today, but several small loose dry avalanches were observed. A size 2 skier-triggered slab occurred in the Hero's Knob area on Saturday. This slide was 100cm deep and 40m wide, and was significant near miss for the people involved.

Snowpack Summary

Another 5 to 10cm of new snow fell in the last 24 hours. This brings recent storm totals to between 50 and 60cm. This storm snow sits on a crust on solar aspects, and may have thin crusts interspersed within the storm snow. The storm snow has remained mainly low density at upper elevations, but be on the lookout for both surface and buried wind slabs formed by both the "traditional" winds (SW) and by up-slope conditions (NE). Recent snowpack tests indicate moderate shears down between 50 and 70cm, so take the time to explore the local conditions as you travel. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid steep convex slopes.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

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.

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.