Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 21st, 2015 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

This relatively stagnant weather pattern will lead to little change in avalanche conditions. Good skiing at lower elevations. Be mindful of recently formed wind slabs and potential sluffing at higher elevations.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will bring a mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation. Alpine temperatures will reach a high of -11 Â°C. Winds will be out of the west at 15 km/h. Similar conditions are expected Wednesday with a chance of light flurries on Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

One loose dry naturally triggered avalanche was observed today on a steep NW aspect initiating in the Alpine. This slide was a size 1.5 and ran for a significant distance.

Snowpack Summary

Highly variable new snow amounts in the past 24hrs ranging from 0 to 10cm. Recent storm snow totals now sit between 15 and 25cm and this snow remains low density except at upper elevations. Wind slabs are present in Alpine and upper Treeline elevations. These slabs are found in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge-top and only extend into Treeline in wind prone areas. Ski cutting produces isolated cracking in these wind slabs. The Dec 4th persistent weak layer is found primarily below 2100m in the forecast region and currently appears dormant due to the lack of slab properties above this layer.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are found in immediate lees along ridgelines and in cross-loaded features in Alpine terrain and into Treeline elevations. With sufficient steepness in convex and/or unsupported terrain these slabs may be sensitive to human triggering.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Sluffing has been observed in steep Alpine terrain over the last 2 days, some with enough mass to be of concern in exposed terrain or in terrain traps. Some of these slides have been observed to run a significant distance.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Avoid areas with overhead hazard.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 22nd, 2015 2:00PM