Kananaskis

Conditions are still ripe for human triggering at Treeline and above. Many clues of unstable snow have been observed in recent days. Give the snowpack more time to stabilize before committing to bigger terrain features.

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Wednesday will be a mix of sun and cloud and very light flurries with temperatures near -4 in the Alpine. Winds will be out of the West at 30km/h and the freezing level will climb to 1900m. Thursday and Friday will see warm temperatures and rising freezing levels.

A significant natural avalanche cycle has occurred over the last 4 days. Some ski-triggered slides have also been reported. Activity has tapered off, but 2 new naturally triggered slabs were observed today on E aspects between 2300 and 2600m. These slabs were both size 2.0 and appeared to be storm snow slabs.

12cm of new snow overnight brings recent storm snow totals to between 50 and 70cm at Treeline. This storm snow is generally settling rapidly due to mild temperatures. Wind slabs are present in open areas at Treeline and in the Alpine and these have been reactive to ski cutting in recent days and are also giving easy to moderate results in compression tests. Storm slabs are also an issue at all elevations with the interface (down 50 to 70cm) giving moderate compression test results today with very clean shear qualities. The surface snow is moist below 2050m on all aspects and higher on solar aspects. The snowpack in the valley floor did freeze overnight, but by midday the snowpack was moist and unsupportive. Recent cornice growth is also a concern as failures of cornices have triggered the deep persistent weak layer of the November facets in very large avalanches in recent days.