Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kananaskis.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
A warm and windy storm is approaching that will bring up to 25cm of new snow through the day. Gusty SW winds could reach 85km/h. Friday will see light flurries, before a clearing trend moves in for the weekend.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche control on Mt Buller and the East End of Rundle (EEOR) had variable results, with some loose dry and slab avalanches up to size 2.5. The most significant avalanches occurred on EEOR where significant propagations occurred in the recently formed wind slabs. No new natural avalanches were observed today, but field teams did get some cracking along a ridge crest between 2450 and 2300m while ski cutting.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow has settled to between 50 and 80cm, which overlies a hard slab in Alpine areas and some Treeline features. This snow has been redistributed by strong winds, and wind slabs are now dominant on all aspects at Treeline and above. These slabs seem most sensitive to human-triggering in the Treeline elevation band. Snowpack stability tests today indicate easy to moderate shears down 35 and 55cm. Concern remains for the potential of an avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack to step down to the weak basal layers causing a very large and destructive avalanche.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 4