Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 2nd, 2013 7:09AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The intense winter storm has almost completely missed the Kananaskis Region. Very little snow has accumulated so far, but danger levels will rise if snowfall amounts increase. Winds are expected to stay in the strong range from the North.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday is expected to be cold with Alpine temperatures topping out at -22 degrees. Winds will continue to be strong from the North giving high wind-chill values. Only a trace amount of new snow is expected in the next 24hrs.

Avalanche Summary

Minor sluffing was observed in very steep ALP terrain on South and East aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Between 1 and 5cm of new snow depending on elevation. Strong winds are re-locating the new snow to SE, S and SW aspects, and thin wind slabs are developing. Overall the snowpack remains shallow and weak.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Avalanches initiated in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to the basal October crust and involve the entire winters snowpack.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>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

2 - 5

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs are beginning to develop with the arrival of new snow and strong winds over the next 24hrs. Snowfall amounts so far have been much less than expected, so this problem is not yet a major concern. However the situation could rapidly evolve.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Sluffing is occurring in steep Alpine terrain.

Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 3rd, 2013 2:00PM