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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2014–Jan 21st, 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.

Wind slabs in open terrain above treeline are still the primary concern.  Daytime heating issues are less of a concern now with cooler temps across the forecast area.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Cooler temps re minimizing the daytime heating issues.  Only trace amounts of new snow expected over the next few days and daytime highs in the Alpine elevation zone are forecast to remain below the freezing mark with mainly clear skiy conditions.

Avalanche Summary

No new observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

Little change over the past 24 hours - a little more wind but generally light.  melt-freeze crust on on solar aspects up to 2400m.  Main concerns remain unchanged - weak basal facets with 4F-!F hardness above which is susceptible to human triggering in areas where the snow cover is thin.

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.