Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 27th, 2015 7:21AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Caution on solar aspects as intense solar radiation and high freezing levels are initiating loose wet avalanches out of steeper terrain. Watch for indications of warm temps such as water on the rocks or pinwheeling of surface snow.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Tomorrow temperatures are still expected to be warm with freezing levels up to 2900m.Â Winds are forecast to be light out of the north.Â No new precip....Â That looks a little ways off yet.

Avalanche Summary

Some loose dry avalanches out of steeper terrain up to sz 1 and some loose moist pinwheeling on solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

The temperatures warmed up today especially at the higher elevations.Â -1 was observed at 2500m and some of out weather stations were showing temps of +3 at 2200m.Â So long story short, a bunch of different temperatures were observed in the region.Â Expect to encounter a sun crust tomorrow morning on solar aspects up to 2600m and dry snow on more polar aspects.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Dense wind slabs are common in Alpine terrain and open areas at Treeline, especially in lee and cross-loaded features. Steep terrain with shallow snowpack characteristics are potential trigger points.

Avoid unsupported slopes.>Avoid cross loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

As temperatures warm up expect to encounter loose wet avalanches on more solar aspects out of steeper terrain.

Avoid ice climbs that are exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects.>Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 28th, 2015 2:00PM