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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2020–Mar 2nd, 2020

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

More snow and winds are making windslabs more reactive and widespread in the alpine as well as down into treeline. These slabs will take a few days to stabilize. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Warm and windy is on deck for Monday! Winds are forecast to be around 100KPH out of the west with temps around -3C in lower elevations. No new snow is forecast and a mix of sun and cloud is expected. Sunscreen and windscreen if your headed out...

Avalanche Summary

A few sz 1-5-2 windslabs were observed on N aspects along with a few isoalted loose dry slides from steep N aspects. These windslabs were failing in the new snow and not stepping down to any deeper layers. 

Snowpack Summary

Another 10cm of snow fell on Sunday giving us 25cm of recent snow. But...the winds arrived today and wow did it blow the snow around. Widespread windslabs can be expected in alpine terrain and down into treeline. Warm temps also made the snow moist on steep solar aspects and a few loose wet slides were observed later in the day. Sheltered arounds at treeline and below will hold hope for good skiing!

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.