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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2021–Feb 27th, 2021

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

Windslabs in the upper snowack are the main concern at this time. As you transition into treeline and above terrain, keep you head up and be thinking where has the wind moved the snow around. Good skiing in sheltered areas can be found!

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Well the snow that was in the forecast has vanished and we are left with cool temperatures on Saturday with light winds out of the SW that will increase throughout the day. Having said that they skies are clearing and it looks like it will be a beautiful day. Early in the upcoming week we will see conditions start to improve with warmer temperatures and snow new snow but... its just a forecast!!!

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Friday. 

Snowpack Summary

The strong winds have created widespread windslabs in open areas in the alpine and a more variable windslab at treeline. The cold facets layer that developed in the previous weeks is now buried down 40-50cm at treeline and the Jan 29th is down closer to 60-70cm. The sheers on the facet layer are highly variable so dig down and check these interfaces before committing to a slope. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.

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.