Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 26 – 27, 2020Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas. Fresh wind slabs on E through S aspects from the recent NW winds.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    The widespread wind slabs are now hidden under 10cm of fresh low density snow. These are primarily a concern in steep, convex and unsupported terrain. Thin areas may also be trigger points. Expect to find fresh wind slabs on E through S aspects. 

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    This problem is still difficult to trigger, but snowpack stability tests today indicate a failure in the basal facets. Any resulting avalanche will be large and destructive.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday is looking like a mostly cloudy day with afternoon flurries. The high temperature in the alpine will be -6c with moderate to strong winds from the West.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed. 

Snowpack Summary

Strong NW alpine winds is moving our recent 10cm of snow onto SE features. Expect to find soft slabs in lee features and cross loaded gullies on the south to East aspects. Otherwise, there is the wind slab in the alpine and sun crust on solar aspects that was previously formed that is still on our radar. Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Regions covered