Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 25th, 2016 3:00PM

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

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

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Kananaskis.

Another 10cm is forecast to fall overnight with strong SW winds.  Watch for new windslabs building in open terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Forecasts are calling for continued SW winds a another 10-12cm of snow to fall overnight and throuhgout the day on Saturday.  Highwood pass/Rae saw LOTS of wind so just a heads up if you were thinking about heading that way...

Avalanche Summary

No new slides were observed on Friday but conditions were obscured and looking into the alpine was challenging.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of new snow fell overnight and throughout the day on Friday but its not all good news...  There were strong SW winds flowing and the new snow and even some of the old snow was rapidly being redistributed onto lee features as well as Saskatchewan.  These new windslabs are overlying the Nov 12th melt freeze crust down 30-40cm.  So far field tests have shown the bond between this overlying snow and the older snow to be good but that may begin to change as more load is applied.  New windslabs should be expected along ridgelines and in any open wind affected terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Additional snow has fallen with strong winds building new stiffer windslabs in the Alpine and treeline.  Watch for these pockets in open wind affected areas.
Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 26th, 2016 2:00PM

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