Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 20th, 2015 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Watch for storm slabs at higher elevations, as these could be sensitive to human-triggering in steep terrain. Pay attention as you transition to wind affected snow.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Tonight could see SW winds reaching 70km/h. Monday will be mainly cloudy with no precipitation expected. Temperatures should reach a high of -11 °C in the Alpine. Winds are expected to be out of the SW at 15-30 km/h.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose dry avalanches up to size 1.0 were observed in extreme terrain in the Alpine.

Snowpack Summary

2 to 4cm of new snow overnight brings storm snow totals up to near 20cm at Treeline. The recent snow is low density except above 2300m where storm slabs have built over the last 2 days. Cornices are beginning to grow. The Dec 4th persistent weak layer is still found below 2100m, but seems dormant at the moment.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Fresh wind slabs are building in immediate lees along ridge-lines and in cross-loaded features in Alpine terrain and just into Treeline. These slabs are sensitive to human triggering in steeper terrain and in convex and unsupported features.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Recent wind and snowfall has led to sluffing in steep terrain in the Alpine. These slides could pick up significant mass in confined terrain features.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 21st, 2015 2:00PM