Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Jan 6 – 7, 2017Alberta Parks
View on map
Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are still very possible at this time.  The current snowpack is weak and thin areas will be likely places where a skier could cause an avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    These slabs are failing down 30-50cm at the main density change.  Human triggerring from a thin snowpack area is a definite possibility.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Isolated natural avalanches last week stepped down to this basal interface.  Thin areas will be the likely trigger points wherein you may get the persistent and the deep persistent slab to fail.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Temps are going to be doing the slow climb back up over the next few days.  Winds are forecast to remain calm and there is even a chance for some snow later in the weekend.

Avalanche Summary

No new slab avalanche activity was observed but there was a few small sz 1 loose dry avalanches out of steep unskiable terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind affect in alpine areas and into open areas at treeline and below.  Natural avalanche activity has began to subside but the snowpack is still within the range of being triggerred by a skier.  Our main concerns continue to be thin windslabs in alpine areas that are overlying the 1218 facets down 30-50cm.  This layer is easy to locate as its marked by a major density change in the snowpack.  Lower in the snowpack is the 1112 crust.  Not much natural avalanche activity has been observed on this layer but it is still within our minds.  Thin snowpack areas will be the places werein you may be able to trigger this weakness.

Regions covered