Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 11th, 2012 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Temperatures are expected to climb over the next few days and winds are forecast to increase. Watch for pockets of small slabs to get increasingly sensitive to human triggering over the next little while.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

Avalanche Summary

A few loose dry avalanches that were pulling out slab avalanches on the lower slopes were observed on Sunday. One of these larger loose dry avalanches pulled out a sz 2 slab above "Trick or Treat" on Mt Lougheed. This would have had bad consequences if someone had been on the route.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack 50-70cm at 2200m in elevation. Below this still below threshold for avalanches in many areas. The Nov 6th crust is down 10cm and is 5cm thick and the October crust is down 30cm and is only 2cm thick. Between these two crusts is a thinner more variable crust that could not be found in many locations. Crust was carrying in most areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Pockets of wind slab up to 40cm deep are present in lee and cross loaded features in the alpine. Gully features are particularly concerning. Loose snow slides are pulling out these pockets so be aware of overhead terrain

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Loose sluffs in recent storm snow. Many of these releases are running far and fast on the November crusts.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Nov 12th, 2012 8:00AM