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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2012–Mar 30th, 2012

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

Regions

Kananaskis.

The snowfall forecast has been scaled back to only approx 10cm over the next 24 hours. Forecast models for the next few days vary but unless we see significant snowfall or rapid warming we anticipate Avalanche danger will remain static.

Confidence

Good - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Avalanche Summary

Visibility was limited by snow and flat light but at least one new Size 2 soft slab release was observed in the Smith-Dorrien area on a northeasterly aspect.

Snowpack Summary

A few test profiles were completed today, most in the treeline elevation zone. Depending upon aspect, one or more thin melt-freeze crusts could be found in the top 20cm of the snowpack. On sheltered northerly aspects the snow surface remains dry and no crusts were evident. The February surface hoar layer burial depth is variable from 75-150cm deep and Compression tests on this layer revealed either HARD or No failures. On lee aspects soft slabs 30-40cm thick have been observed have formed with as a result of winds over the past few days.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.