Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 26th, 2013 3:00PM

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

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Snow cover is highly variable and thin weak spots are abundant. Natural avalanche activity is minimal but here are opportunities out there for skier triggering in areas with thin snow cover. Watch for buried hazards in the form of stumps, logs etc.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Clear skies will dominate over the next couple of days but temps will decline slightly with the freezing level at the surface (@1700m). Winds will lessen on Wednesday and climb back up to more moderate values for Thursday. No new precipitation until at least the weekend.

Avalanche Summary

Only a few loose dry sluffs from steep rocky terrain observed during a day long snow survey flight over most of Kananaskis Country.

Snowpack Summary

Some surface hoar in sheltered locations at and below treeline was observed on Tuesday. WIndward slopes have been stripped bare by winds over the past several days

Problems

Wind Slabs

No change of any consequence...hard slabs in open areas at and above treeline.

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Little change here either...the basal facets provide varying support depending upon how thick the snowpack is - the thinner the snow cover, the more the likelihood of skier triggering is!

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Nov 27th, 2013 2:00PM