Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kananaskis.
Windslabs in the upper snowack are the main concern at this time. As you transition into treeline and above terrain, keep you head up and be thinking where has the wind moved the snow around. Good skiing in sheltered areas can be found!
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
Well the snow that was in the forecast has vanished and we are left with cool temperatures on Saturday with light winds out of the SW that will increase throughout the day. Having said that they skies are clearing and it looks like it will be a beautiful day. Early in the upcoming week we will see conditions start to improve with warmer temperatures and snow new snow but... its just a forecast!!!
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed on Friday.Â
Snowpack Summary
The strong winds have created widespread windslabs in open areas in the alpine and a more variable windslab at treeline. The cold facets layer that developed in the previous weeks is now buried down 40-50cm at treeline and the Jan 29th is down closer to 60-70cm. The sheers on the facet layer are highly variable so dig down and check these interfaces before committing to a slope.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
- Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
The windslabs are obvious in the alpine and you must be more heads up at treeline and looking for these problems. They can easily sneak up on you in steeper or lee loaded features do keep your head up.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5