Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 23rd, 2012 8:00AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Keep a close eye on winds over the next 24hrs as there is currently lots of recent snow available for transport. This will be the last weekend the road is open at Highwood pass.

Summary

Confidence

Good - Wind speed or direction are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

A cold front is pushing across the forecast region and as a result we will see decreasing temperatures over the next 24hrs and the winds will become more NW'erly. Light snowfalls will occur throughout teh weekend but accumulations are not forecast to be significant.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed over the past 24hrs. It was tough to get a good look up and into the Alpine during Fridays field day.

Snowpack Summary

Upper snowpack continues to settle with mild temperatures. Sheers in the storm snow persist but are becomming more resistant in nature. 1106crust down 60cm and a layer of facets is developing above and below this layer. Sheers in the upper snowpack may step down to the deeper 1106cr. Moist facets were noted at the ground level. Still lots of variability in snowpack depths throughout the region. Highwood pass area did not get as much new snow in this recent storm.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds on friday increased into the strong range and as a result, windslabs that have been building over the past few days got thicker and stiffer. As a result, any potential avalanche may be bigger so heads up as you head into wind affected areas.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Persistent Slabs

Skiers should be heads up for thinner areas where it may be easier to trigger an avalanche on this more "deeply" buried weak layer. Lots of variability in snowpack depths at this time.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Nov 24th, 2012 8:00AM