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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 25th, 2020–Jan 26th, 2020
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kananaskis.

Warm temps are promoting new windslab development in alpine areas and with stronger winds forecast on Sunday, we can expect these slabs to grow and become stiffer and more reactive. Pay close attention to freezing levels, stability will decrease on solar aspects of the sun comes 

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

The freezing level will begin dropping tonight as we have overnight lows of around -12C forecast for the region. Light snow will fall tomorrow along the divide but overall accumulations are not expected to be significant. Sunday will be pretty much a carbon copy of Saturday with daytime highs around -4C. The biggest difference is winds are forecast to increase mid morning sunday with it returning to moderate to strong out of the SW.  

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today but observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

10-13cm over the past 24hrs. A thin temperature crust was being found on solar aspects below 2000m early this morning. Easy sheers were being noted in the new windslabs that formed friday in open areas down 20-30cm and the dec 31st SH/FC layer continues to produce moderate- hard sudden planar sheers down 40-50cm below 2300m. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack will likely step down the the weak basal layers and be big. Be thinking about consequences. If the sun comes out, watch for stability to decrease especially on solar aspects.

Terrain and Travel

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.
  • Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Cooler temps are helping to make the recent windslabs less reactive but any steep or unsupported feature should be treated with an abundance of caution.  

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

These are still on the radar. It's worth digging or probing to inspect it. Large triggers are also worth considering, if the bottom layer is disturbed it will be a very big avalanche. 

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5