Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 3rd, 2013 7:12AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

With only 15cm of new snow at treeline through the recent "storm", there has been very little improvement in the ski quality. Any avalanche triggered will likely involve the entire season's snowpack, so choose lines conservatively.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

It appears that we are entering a cold and dry period. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with temperatures near - 21 and NE winds in the light to moderate range. No precipitation is expected for at least a week.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of new snow at Treeline and only 1cm new at valley bottom. Snowpack facetting with cold temperatures. Reverse wind-loading evident and suspect thin wind slab formation on W through SE aspects.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Avalanches initiated in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to the basal October crust and involve the entire winters snowpack.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

Reverse wind-loading has formed thin wind slabs on W through SE aspects. In some cases these slabs sit on layers of sun crust or surface hoar. The likelihood of triggering is highly variable, so use caution when choosing terrain features.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 4th, 2013 2:00PM