Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 23rd, 2013 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Hazard is improving slowly, but caution is still advised in wind effected terrain. Wind slabs are still possible to trigger in steeper terrain. Lots of early season hazards are lurking in the shallow snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Winds continue in the moderate to strong range from the NW. A mix of sun and cloud with highs in the Alpine near -6 degrees.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed today.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar formation in valley bottom. Variable wind effect ALP and TL with many windward regions being scrubbed clean of snow. Snowpack still weak and unconsolidated at lower elevations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent strong winds have created both hard and soft wind slabs in Alpine and Treeline terrain on N through SE aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid areas with overhead hazard.>Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Avalanches that are initiated in the upper snowpack could step down to the October crust or the ground.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Nov 24th, 2013 2:00PM