Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 28th, 2014 7:52AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

This is NOT the time to be in avalanche terrain. If you do head out, be very aware of the snowpack conditions as you travel. Use very small terrain features to test the snow and see how it reacts. MM

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

The snow is expected to stop tonight. The flow will swap to a northerly direction and of course the temps will fall with that swap. Saturday has clear skies forecasted with light winds.

Avalanche Summary

We had two remote avalanches today on our snow study trip. Both features were at treeline and on steep, unsupported rolls. The crust was the failure plain. Both avalanches were sz1. There was a surprising amount of sluffing on the few steeper turns we had.

Snowpack Summary

LOTS of new snow out there. We have had up to 55 cm's in the last few days. The winds haven't packed the punch that we expected, but windslabs, and settlement slabs are still widespread. As expected, the bond with the deeper layers is poor. The deeper layers consist of a facets and a variety of crusts. The most significant crust is the Nov 6th. which is up 10cm's from the ground and buried under 30-50cm's at treeline.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

This is the main concern right now. The layer is not adjusting to the new load and is extremely touchy right now. Remote avalanches have been reported on this layer in a variety of areas.

Avoid all avalanche terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

These slabs are widespread at treeline and alpine elevations. Choose supported terrain and avoid terrain traps.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Sluffing will be a problem in steeper terrain. These sluffs will likely trigger deeper layers.

Avoid open slopes with any steepness over 40 degrees.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 29th, 2014 2:00PM