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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 29th, 2020–Mar 1st, 2020

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.

Recent snow is refreshing the skiing in many areas but...the winds are making for tricky "hooky" skiing in open alpine terrain. Skier trigger-able windslabs are quickly building with the new snow and warm temps. Give the new snow a few days to settle. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

We may see a few more cm of snow fall overnight but the main pulse is done. On Sunday we are expecting to see the winds calm down early in the day but then build again up to moderate out of the west by the later afternoon. A mix of sun and cloud is forecast with temperatures in the -18c range early in the morning.  

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported by skies were obscured most of the day. 

Snowpack Summary

15cm of snow has fallen over the past 24hrs at treeline and above. This new snow has been blown around by moderate to strong westerly winds building new windslabs at treeline and above. Forecasters did notice some cracking up to 20cm deep in treeline features and we do expect the windslabs to be deeper and more reactive in the alpine. Carefully evaluate these new windslabs especially in areas where they are overlying the temperature crust that developed on friday. Cornices are large and growing....  

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.

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.

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.