Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 15 – 16, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Temps are forecast to cool on Thursday which should begin to tighten up the snowpack. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Wind affected upper snowpack is everywhere in the alpine.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Many avalanches have stepped to this layer. Very large avalanches can be expected if this layer is involved. Large triggers(cornices) may wake this layer up.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Weather for Thursday:Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.Precipitation: Trace.Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.Ridge wind southwest: 40-55 km/h.Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Wednesday but observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

The warm temperatures are helping the upper snowpack to settle and producing moist snow on steeper solar aspects. At tree line 50-60cm of settled snow is overlying a facet layer that is about 70cm down producing hard test results. The bottom quarter of the snowpack is weak and consists of facets, depth hoar and the early season crusts. Expect continued wind transport for Wednesday especially on lee features and cross loaded gullies.

Regions covered