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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2013–Mar 21st, 2013

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

Storm slabs in Alpine and Treeline areas remain touchy, with continued avalanche activity observed today. The danger level could rise to HIGH in specific locations if more snow falls than expected. Complex snowpack and weather conditions exist.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Thursday will bring strong westerly winds with ridgetop temperatures near -13. Light snow is expected with accumulations likely between 10 and 20cm.

Avalanche Summary

Tent Bowl produced a size 2.5 slab avalanche sometime in the last 12 hours. See Facebook for photos. This slide took out a good portion of the normal ski line and also ran over the up-track well down into the gully. Another size 2.0 cornice triggered slide was observed on an E aspect at 2400m. Some isolated snow-balling was also observed on steep solar aspects in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 2cm of new snow fell overnight. The snowpack continues to settle. Moist snow observed on solar aspects in the afternoon up to at least 2200m. Touchy storm slabs are widespread in Alpine and Treeline terrain on all aspects. Numerous crust layers exist in the upper snowpack up to 2300m on all aspects and as high as 3000m on S aspects.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.

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.