Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 11th, 2012 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 Persistent Slabs.

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Current weather forecasts do not indicate any major changes over the next couple of days. Be cautious in the presence of recently formed windslabs which vary considerable in thickness but should still be considered sensitive to human triggering.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

5-7cm new snow possible overnight. Upper elevation winds veering from W to NW and dropping through evening and overnight. Gradual decline in temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed in travels today. Ski cutting on top of small cornices did not produce any results on 30+deg slopes below.

Snowpack Summary

Test profile 2200m, N asp at Treeline in location subject to windloading. CTE down 14cm and down 23 cm within storm snow layers and on top of a hard windslab- easily skier triggerable. Still finding consistent hard test results down 130cm on top of Nv raincrust at this site. Concern regarding this layer is in areas of thin snowcover.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for pockets of these wind slabs along ridgelines, around cross loaded features and be especially careful around unsupported terrain. Ski cutting along small cornice features produced minimal results but these tests were not definitive.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

The Nov rain crust persists about 30+cm off the ground throughout the forecast area and is reactive to stability tests in the hard range. Avalanches in the upper snowpack may step down to this weakness-be especially aware in areas of thin snowcover.

Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.>Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Dec 12th, 2012 2:00PM