Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 9th, 2024 1:45PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Kananaskis,
Avalanche Canada
Be careful around lee features, convex rolls and cross loaded gullies. These features are more sensitive to human triggering. Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed or reported today.
Snowpack Summary
This last weekend's snowfall left anywhere from 5cm at valley bottom and upwards of 20cm in the alpine. Recent strong winds have loaded lee features, convex rolls along ridges, and cross loaded gullies. These features are our biggest concern at the moment. Some cracking and soft slabs were ski cut today by the forecasting team in the Burstall Pass area.
The December 7 crust layer is isolated and more likely on solar aspects; time will tell if this layer will be a big concern. The October crust is located in the bottom 20cm of the snowpack and is still producing test results in our snow pits. The November crust is not as widespread and is found about 30cm off the ground. The snowpack is generally thin and weak except in the Burstall Pass region where the height of snow is over 100cm and the snowpack is stronger. Check out our snow profile below:
Weather Summary
Temperatures on Tuesday will hover around -8c. Click on the table below for more weather info.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
- Avoid steep terrain that is rocky and thin.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent strong winds have loaded lee and cross-loaded terrain. Multiple layers of "laminated" wind slabs are evident in Alpine and Treeline terrain. Reactivity of these different wind slabs is highly variable.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Oct and Nov crusts are faceting, which may mean that persistent slabs are more reactive to human triggering. If triggered the surface wind slabs may step down to this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 10th, 2024 3:00PM
