Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Nov 25 – 26, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch tomorrow's freezing levels. It wouldn 't take much change in temperature or precipitation input to push the treeline hazard to considerable.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    These will be concentrated to immediate lee areas for now. As winds increase, expect them to move lower and become larger

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    We are still suspect of this layer. Expect it to be intact and reactive at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Flurries overnight with more significant snow starting around noon tomorrow.  We are expecting 20cm by Sunday night. As any experienced local would guess, the accompanying SW winds will be strong (55-70km/hr) as the storm plays through. Freezing levels will climb up to 2200m tomorrow. Temperatures will fall as the storm passes.

Avalanche Summary

A few recent avalanches were noted on various aspects. They were up to sz2.5, and in confined areas/gullies they ran quite far. All of them originated from steep cliff terrain and pulled out slabs below.

Snowpack Summary

There were a few scattered flurries today, but no significant accumulation. The 10-15 cm from yesterday has helped to cover the crust and at upper elevations has likely improved the ski quality, however that can't be confirmed first hand. The latest crust is thought to be as high as 2500m on all aspects, and quite thick given the extended length of the warm spell/rain. Given the new snow and recent SW winds, fresh wind slabs are expected in immediate lee areas in the alpine.

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