Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Jan 16 – 17, 2017Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Snowfall forecasts are highly uncertain. At the moment it does not look like enough snow will fall to change the hazard level on Tuesday, but backcountry travelers should be keenly aware of localized conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs up to 35cm thick are variably distributed in Alpine areas and just down into treeline. Snowpack tests are producing failures at this interface indicating the possibility for human triggering. Watch for reverse wind-loading.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Deeply buried weak layers dominate the snowpack. Avalanches are more likely triggered from shallow snowpack areas and step down to the basal facets and involve the entire winters snowpack.

Confidence

Low - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a high near -6 C. Winds will be strong to extreme from the West, and could reach a s high as 140km/h at 3000m. Precipitation forecasts are highly variable, with some models calling for only trace amounts and others calling for up to 20cm by late Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported in past 24hrs.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs up to 35cm deep are found in various areas of the Alpine from lee-, cross-, and reverse-loading. These slabs are also found in isolated areas at Treeline. Snowpack tests continue to indicate failures in the moderate range down 35cm, as well as on the Nov crust layer buried deeply in the snowpack. Overall the snowpack is very weak and facetted, especially at lower elevations. Avalanches initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.

Regions covered