Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Dec 13 – 14, 2015Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Good ski quality, but keep in mind the early December persistent weak layer. This layer will be an issue for some time. Watch for wind loading at higher elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Thin wind slabs have formed in Alpine areas on lee and cross-loaded features. These slabs do not seem to extend far down-slope, but could be a concern in steep and unsupported terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    The Dec 4th persistent weak layer, buried 50 to 70cm at Treeline, remains a concern in the snowpack, as it continues to give results in snowpack stability tests. Open slopes and convex terrain are areas with potential for human-triggering.

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Monday will be mainly cloudy with little to no precipitation expected. Temperatures in the Alpine should reach a high of -9 °C. Winds are forecasted to be out of the northwest at 15 km/h. Tuesday could see some sunny breaks.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

10cm of new snow overnight from convective flurries. Winds have remained light and as a result, there has been little snow redistribution and slab development except in the Alpine along immediate lee features such as ridge lines and cross-loaded terrain. Dec 4th persistent weak layer down 50-60cm at Treeline and is producing shears in the Moderate to Hard range. Dec 4th surface hoar was found up to 2300m in areas observed today but believe that this is not widespread, as we have previously only found it at 2100m and below.

Regions covered