Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 19 – 20, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Travel is much better below treeline.  Exposure to large overhead hazards still a concern because of a weak faceted basal snow pack.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    New wind slabs 20-30cm thick in alpine areas.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Alpine and treeline areas have a sun crust on steep solar aspects up to 2400m. The deeper layers were insulated from the warmth and remain the same as they were before. Inspect this interface for signs of weakness.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Past avalanches have stepped to this layer. Thin areas and transitional terrain remain a concern.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

Temperatures on Monday will be about -9c in the Alpine.  Winds are expected to be light to moderate out of the SW with only a trace of snow forecast.  Freezing level is supposed o be 1500m. 

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity was observed over the past 24hrs.

Snowpack Summary

An average of 10-20cm of recent snow is now overlying a widespread temperature crust up to 2000m and up to 2400m on solar aspects.  In the Alpine, you can find thin storm slabs(up to 30cm thick).  Just below this temperature crust, there is a well settled upper snowpack still sitting on a weak faceted basal layer (down approx. 100-120cm).  This weak basal layer is still giving the forecasters little confidence in exposing ourselves to large terrain overhead.  Good skiing was found in open areas at treeline and below. 

Regions covered