Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 14 – 15, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avoidance of avalanche terrain is the key here. Even steep terrain below treeline can produce avalanches right now.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Wind slabs are everywhere in the alpine.  Moist snow on steep solar aspects at all elevations

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Cornices are large and relatively new to the scene. Expect them to fail easily, especially as it warms up.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Many avalanches have stepped to this layer. Very large avalanches can be expected if this layer is involved. Large triggers(cornices) may wake this layer up.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

Continued warm temperatures for Wednesday with alpine temperatures of -1c and strong SW winds.  Freezing level expected at 1900m on Wednesday.  Light flurries expected for Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

One incident with scramblers triggering an avalanche on an outlying peak of Mt. Charles Stewart.

Snowpack Summary

The warm temperatures are helping the upper snowpack to settle and producing moist snow on steeper solar aspects.  At tree line 50-60cm of settled snow is overlying a facet layer that is about 70cm down producing hard test results.  The bottom quarter of the snowpack is weak and consists of facets, depth hoar and the early season crusts.  Expect continued wind transport for Wednesday especially on lee features and cross loaded gullies.

Regions covered