Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 22 – 23, 2013Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow and strong winds forecast to arrive overnight on Friday evening.  Watch for decreasing stability. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Pockets of soft slab are present in lee and cross-loaded features in the alpine. These recent slabs sit on an old smooth layer of hard slab - this was the failure plane for an avalanche involvement on Thursday in the Hero's Knob area.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Numerous loose dry sluffs up to size 1 were observed on lee aspects throughout the day again on Friday due to wind action.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Fresh storm slabs are building in open wind affected terrain.  Be aware of these new slabs as you transition into open wind affected terrain. 

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

The storm that was forecast to arrive on Friday afternoon has now been pushed back to Friday night.  We expect snow to begin falling around 19:00 and continue into the morning with total accumulations of 15-20cm.  Winds will be STRONG out of the SW so new slabs will be quick to develop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed but conditions were obscured throughout the day.  Likely there was loose dry sluffs up to sz 1 from steep unskiable terrain throughout the day.

Snowpack Summary

5cm new snow overnight in the core areas of the forecast area with strong westerly winds.  Touchy slabs building in Alpine terrain and in steep unsupported area at treeline.  Watch for pockets of unstable snow along ridge crests, along moraines, and in gullied terrain features, especially along lee aspects.

Regions covered