Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 10th, 2024–Mar 11th, 2024

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, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

A fatal avalanche occurred on Sunday (limited details available in the Avalanche Summary). The snowpack is tricky right now. Several skier triggered avalanches have occurred in the past 24hrs.

A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect and has been extended. Click the red SPAW link for details.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A fatal avalanche occurred Sunday on The Tower, not far from the Engadine Burn area. Details are still limited. A party of 2 triggered a large avalanche and was pushed into the trees. One skier survived, and unfortunately the other didn't. Further details to come.

In addition, at least 2 other close calls occurred in the region Sunday (check the MIN Reports) in the Burstall and Tryst areas. These two events were both skier triggered avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

The winds have been strong the last few days creating extensive wind slabs at tree line and above and if triggered, could step down to the Feb 2 layer down 70-100cm. Expect the most recent sun crust to be buried under 5-10cm of this incoming snow on solar aspects. This sun crust will be a new sliding layer for the most recent snow to avalanche on, especially if the snow amounts are larger than forecasted.

Weather Summary

Cloudy and flurries on Monday with up to 10cm of snow by mid-day. The high temperature in the alpine will be -5c and freezing level around 2000m. Winds are expected to slow down a bit to 50-60km/hr from the SW.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.