Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 24th, 2024–Feb 25th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.

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 welcomed change in the weather. Snow is forecasted and is falling all around us currently. The potential for 35cm by Monday. This storm is coming with Extreme winds, so allow time for the snowpack to adjust before venturing in to any kind of bigger terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

Crusts, crusts and more crusts...

Steep SW and W aspects have a thin crust from all of the recent warmth. It is easily breakable and tricky to deal with, but luckily it is not that widespread and predictable to find. There are also pockets of fresh windslab that are forming near ridges and open areas at treeline and above. These are resting on old facets and could build to the point of failing. The Feb crust is down about 20cm and widespread below 2500m. This will be a layer to watch during this next storm. There are facets on top of it that will not tolerate much load. Beneath the Feb crust the snowpack is a mish mash of old crusts and facets. Definitely worth digging or probing to see what its like in your terrain of choice.

Weather Summary

Saturday evening into Sunday morning, if we're lucky will see about 10cm. Sunday itself looks to be calling for another 10cm. A very welcomed change! Winds are howling out there and gusting to 90km/h up high. Day time temps will hover around -9

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of strong wind.
Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.