Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 30th, 2015 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

As the warm air arrives, there could be a potential bump in the danger. Tomorrow, the solar input & warmer air could join forces and create isolated areas with moderate hazard.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

The over night low will be -15 in the alpine. For tomorrow, expect sunny skies with a daytime high of -3. Needless to say we're facing another mini drought for the next while, so no new snow is expected for awhile yet. The winds will remain light from the north.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed

Snowpack Summary

The cold has taken its toll on the snowpack. The good travel we've enjoyed this winter is quickly fading. Below treeline the snow pack is mostly faceted and near bottomless. At treeline it still carries a skier well with ski pens of 10-15cm's, however the mid pack is noticeably weaker. The alpine has also felt the cold. The surface snow is facetted and the old buried windslabs are more noticeable, down 20-30cm. The skiing is still great, but it seems we've passed the prime time. Snow depths are: Burstall Pass 100cms & Mud Lake 77cms

Problems

Wind Slabs

Today these were found in the immediate lee features. In shallow areas recognize that the deeper layers have facetted out. At 2600m, we had one shallow area that had a very small settlement with shooting cracks.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 31st, 2015 2:00PM