Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kananaskis.
A big rise in hazard on Thursday due to the sunny and warm conditions. Start early and finish early.
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Thursday will bring a big warmup with daytime highs around +3C at Treeline elevations. It will be mostly sunny with light SW winds. Friday will be similar, but a bit windier.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new today.
Snowpack Summary
An average of 20cm of recent storm snow is found at Treeline, which remains dry and low density on polar aspects, and turning moist on solar aspects at lower elevations. The storm snow appears well bonded to the layers below, but isolated pockets of wind slab are found in the Alpine. With the expected sunny and warm conditions on Thursday all solar aspects and lower elevation terrain will experience significant moist snow conditions.
Terrain and Travel
- Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Intense solar radiation and warm temps on Thursday will lead to significant loose wet activity. These avalanches could entrain a fair amount of snow and run far on the buried crusts.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Cornices
Avoid exposure to cornices as they will be fragile due to intense solar radiation over the next couple days.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
The recent storm snow is mostly bonding well on the temperature and sun crusts, but watch for pockets of wind slab in wind prone areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2