Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 4th, 2015 7:06AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Up to 8cm of new snow over the past 24hrs with moderate winds. Not enough to really ramp up the avalanche danger but some of the thinner areas may be trickier to spot.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are expected to cool over the next few days slightly but in terms of snowfalls, we are only expecting a few dribs and drags and no new significant precipitation. Winds will continue to be moderate to strong out of the SW.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 8cm of new snow over the past 24hrs through convective squalls. This new snow is overlying a variety of snow surface including sun crusts on solar aspects and surface hoar in lower elevations and on more northern aspects. This new snow was being moved around by moderate to strong SW winds building new thin windslabs.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Dense wind slabs are common in Alpine terrain and open areas at Treeline, especially in lee and cross-loaded features. Steep terrain with shallow snowpack characteristics are potential trigger points.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.>Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 5th, 2015 2:00PM