Kananaskis

15-25cm of snow over the past few days is adding load to the November crust down 30-50cm. This and new windslabs due to moderate variable winds are giving us a complex early season snowpack.  

Steady light snowfalls will continue over the next few days but accumulations will be minimal. Temperatures will be more seasonal around -10C over the next few days with winds continuing in the moderate range mainly out of the SW.

No new slab avalanche activity but a few loose dry avalanche out of steep terrain up to sz 1.5 were observed. 

20-25cm of snow has fallen over the past 48hrs with variable winds at the upper elevations. WIndslabs in the upper snowpack are evident in alpine areas and there is also a layer of weak facets overlying the November rain crust that is producing moderate sudden planar failures down 30-40cm. Thin areas persist where triggerring the facets overlying the november crust may be easier and also the chance of clipping a rock or tree at lower elevations are very real as its still pretty thin. The crust is being found up to 2550m and is carrying a skeirs weight well. 

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.