Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The overnight and early morning winds will strongly influence the hazard tomorrow. Expect windslabs at treeline and above if there is widespread snow transport. Alpine hazard could jump to considerable.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Recent winds have created isolated thin wind slabs in lee and cross loaded areas at Treeline and above.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The buried hard slab is the concern here. Probing with a ski pole is the best way to monitor its location. Expect wide propagations if it does get triggered.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–4
    This layer will be with us for the year and should be put into every slope decision. The current snowpack structure is very concerning, with the possibility of very large avalanches if a trigger point is found.

Confidence

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Up to 5cm tonight. Tomorrow will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. The alpine high will be -15 with wind s picking up to 45-50km/.hr from the west at treeline. The alpine will much stronger winds. One forecast had then at 100km/hr in the morning.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new was seen today.

Snowpack Summary

A flight around the area today gave us a good look at the snow conditions. In general we are still seeing a low elevation snowpack that is well settled up top, but weak deeper down. There are two apparent crusts in the top layers, but neither of which pose a problem yet.  This deep weakness is a widespread problem. Treeline and alpine elevations has had a few cm's of snow with not a lot of wind effect. Some transport was noted, but most of it was localized and of little consequence. At these upper elevations, the problem layers are down almost a meter. Some near surface slabs exist as do buried sun crusts on solar aspects. Unlike the low elevation, these crusts may be a concern in steep terrain.

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