Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2016 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.

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Our snowpack is losing its strength a little more each day. Watch for buried hazards as the snowpack becomes weaker.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud tomorrow with an alpine high of -20. Winds will be light and swing around to the NE. Our models are also showing a temperature inversion starting tonight and running to Friday morning.

Avalanche Summary

Some small loose dry avalanches were observed on southern, alpine slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Not a lot of change out there in the last 24 hours. The cold snap has continued (-32 at Burstall parking this AM) which will keep the faceting trend going strong. Below treeline has nothing in the way of avalanche concerns. Treeline still has those surface windslabs in open, wind exposed areas. The cold will eventually lower the windslab problem, but for now they are front and center as the main treeline avalanche problem. They are 10-20cm thick, and because of the rotten snow underneath propagations may be surprisingly large The Nov 12th crust is down up to 60cm and is still intact, but sugary facets are immediately above and below. One more thing to ponder...above the Nov 12th there is a healthy layer of facets. It's thought that this layer will be entrained by any avalanche that may occur in the windslabs. Food for thought when thinking of a larger piece of terrain.The Alpine. Same as treeline, but a thicker surface slab. Awhile back we had a buried windslab that was an issue. In the last week or so that has blended with the the surface snow to create the current windslab issue. Snow depths are: Burstall Pass 90cm, Mud Lake 35, Aster Lake 90cm

Problems

Wind Slabs

These slabs are on the surface at treeline. The alpine is showing a more significant slab as the buried one becomes blended with the surface slab. Remember- its variable right now! Dig to prove what is happening where you are.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

This refers to the Nov 12th crust. The facet layer above that is now rotten enough to make us believe that it will immediately scrub down to the 12th if an avalanche were to happen within the surface layers.

Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls