Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 24th, 2016 3:23PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Our first "storm" of the season is forecasting 20cm of snow over the next 36hrs with strong SW winds. We may begin to see avalanche danger increase over the next few days.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

A few cm of new snow will likely fall overnight and then forecasts are calling for 10 on Friday and another 10cm on Saturday. This new snow is forecast to come with strong SW winds so we can expect avalanche danger to slowly increase. Access our weather stations on www.avalanche.ca

Avalanche Summary

No new natural or skier triggerred avalanches were noted today.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of recent snow with strong winds hasn't really changed the current state of the snowpack that much. Winds were strong on Thursday and as a result hard windslabs have been building in alpine and treeline areas. The main layer of concern is the Nov 12th, down 20-30cm. This layer may begin to produce more avalanches as the snowloads increase. Below 2000m the skiing is fairly rugged,

Problems

Wind Slabs

Windslabs are becomming stiffer with the recent strong SW winds. Watch for these problems in gullied terrain and along ridgelines. Ice climbers heads up for stiff pockets above and below routes on the approaches.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 25th, 2016 2:00PM