Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Jan 22 – 23, 2016Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Warm Temps, high freezing levels and strong winds have dramatically changed our snowpack.  The re-set of the snowpack we were hopeful for we didnt quite get. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    In areas where this new snow is overlying the previous hard surface slides may be more easily triggerred.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Persistent slabs up to 30cm thick are are widespread in Alpine lee features and in more specific areas at treeline. .

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are forecast to cool on Saturday by mid-day and the winds are going to be dying down.  The weak pineapple express is coming to an end....Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.Precipitation: Trace.Alpine temperature: High -5 C.Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Friday but visibility was limited.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels were around 2200m on Friday and in some areas we even saw some light rain. A tiny bit of new snow fell throughout the day but long story short no where near the 15cm that as forecast (cue the sound of a sad trumpet). We did get lots of wind thoguh and as a result, most alpine terrain is wind affected. Windward slopes are scoured and lee features have a combination of windslabs and persistent slabs. These slabs are 20-40cm thick and failing on the Jan 6th facet interface which includes mainly facets and surface hoar. Any avalanche that initiates in the Alpine seems to be gouging out the facets on the lower slopes and running far.

Regions covered