The intense winter storm has almost completely missed the Kananaskis Region. Very little snow has accumulated so far, but danger levels will rise if snowfall amounts increase. Winds are expected to stay in the strong range from the North.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Tuesday is expected to be cold with Alpine temperatures topping out at -22 degrees. Winds will continue to be strong from the North giving high wind-chill values. Only a trace amount of new snow is expected in the next 24hrs.
Avalanche Summary
Minor sluffing was observed in very steep ALP terrain on South and East aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Between 1 and 5cm of new snow depending on elevation. Strong winds are re-locating the new snow to SE, S and SW aspects, and thin wind slabs are developing. Overall the snowpack remains shallow and weak.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.