Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 2nd, 2013 8:18AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Up to 30cm of recent snow in Alpine terrain with light to moderate northerly winds is making avalanche conditions touchy in Alpine areas. Most areas at treeline and below are still below threshold for avalanches to occur.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations for the entire period

Weather Forecast

An additional 10cm of snow may fall over saturday night and into Sunday. This new snow is falling under the influence of a moderate northerly wind so storm slab development will be ongoing over the next 24hrs.

Avalanche Summary

Conditions were obscured throughout most of the day on Saturday so there was never a good chance to get a look up into the Alpine. There was a size 2 Natural (suspected) avalanche involving a group of 6 ice climbers in the Ranger Creek area (R and D, Chalice and the Blade) on Saturday morning. We were unable to estimate fracture depth or width but the run-out extended 150m down below the ice climbs.

Snowpack Summary

Snowloads continue to build in Alpine terrain. There is still lots of variability in snowpack depths throughout the region so careful evaluation of slopes is needed. There are still minimal observations from alpine terrain so be sure to use caution.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Touchy storm slabs are building in Alpine terrain with recent snow and winds.

The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>Choose ice climbs that are not exposed to avalanches from above.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Extensive sluffing in steeper terrain related to new snow. Ice climbers should be especially aware of this problem.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>Choose ice climbs that are not exposed to avalanches from above.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 3rd, 2013 1:00PM