Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 3 – 4, 2019Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

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

What more can be said? Cold air and facetted snow are with us for awhile yet. Decent skiing can be had, but keep an eye out for those "facalanches"!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    These are getting better as the bond improves with the underlying layer and the cold air facets the snow. If they do react, expect them to auger in and bulldoze the midpack.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5
    Mostly a problem in steep terrain, but we could start to see some solar triggered slides as well.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3
    We are thinking this layer is becoming more reactive over time. As the slabs facet/weaken, the bridging effect will become less reliable. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tomorrow will see a relative warm spell! Only -22 in the morning with a high of -10. Light NE winds and of course, no snow.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

Cold, dry and often loose snow is the flavor of the month so far. We are still seeing windslabs near ridges and cross loaded areas, but these seem to loose there typical "cakey" character very quickly. Despite not having a traditional windslab feel to them, they could still react simply because the underlying layers are weak, aerated facets.  As you get further down slope there is eventually no slab, or any true structure to the snow. In un-traveled areas, expect a weak, occasionally bottomless snowpack.

Regions covered