Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 8th, 2016 3:41PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

COLD temps are forecast to continue for one more day before we start to see some new snow and an increase in the winds.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Temps are going to start to get a bit warmer on Friday but its still gonna be COLD! No new snow is expected until friday when we may get a few cm of new snow as a weak low pushes over the region.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar is definetly growing on all aspects and in all elevations right now. We still have concerns about windslabs along ridgelines and in immediate lees on all aspects in alpine terrain. These slabs do not extend far down slope but they should be expected at higher elevations. The nov 24th interface as well as the Nov 12th interface are still producing mixed results. Be sure to dig down and evaluate this interface before you commit to a feature.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Buried wind slabs may be present in the alpine and isolated areas treeline and are found 40 to 60cm below the surface.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Pockets of wind slab are present in Alpine terrain along ridge-crests in immediate lees. These slab are present on all aspects due to lee loading and reverse loading.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 9th, 2016 2:00PM