Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 10th, 2016 3:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Carefully evaluate Alpine terrain due to the presence of buried wind slabs. The character, distribution and triggerability of these slabs seems highly variable.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Sunday will be cloudy with isolatedÂ light flurries and a high nearÂ -15 Â°C. Monday will see a return to cold and clear conditions with temperatures back into the -20 to -25 range.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported today.

Snowpack Summary

Trace to 3cm of new snow in past 24hrs has added to an average of 15cm of low density snow overlying buried wind slabs in the Alpine. These slabs are 5 to 15cm thick and sit on a pronounced layer of weak facets just above the Nov 12th crust layer which is now buried between 40 and 60cm. Snowpack stability tests are giving widely variable results below these buried wind slabs.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Buried wind slabs are found along ridge-crests in the Alpine. Though generally small, if these slabs are triggered they may entrain the loose snow to create larger than expected avalanches. There is a high degree of variability across terrain.

Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 11th, 2016 2:00PM