Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
A few cms of snow is forecast to fall overnight but not enough to improve the skiing. Watch for the potential of triggering the basal layers from thinner snowpack areas. Also, the shortest day of the year is over and the days are getting longer now!!
Confidence
No Rating
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Windslabs were evident in the upper snowpack 10-20cm thick that were cracking under forecasters skis while travelling on Saturday. These windslabs were not widespread but where they were found they were easily failing with a skiers weight. Deeper in the snowpack the Dec 7th interface was found down 50cm and the remnants of the October crust were observed closer to the ground. Where these layers may be triggered is from thinner snowpack features such as approaching ridgelines, or moving across a crossloaded or wind affected feature.
Weather Summary
See image Below
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for surface windslabs in open commonly wind affected areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
If triggered the surface wind slabs may step down to this layer and involve the entire winters snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5