Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Apr 8 – 9, 2015Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Start early and finish early to take advantage of good overnight freezes and avoid moist snow in the afternoon. Travel conditions are fast and easy, and great skiing can be found on sheltered north aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Isolated pockets of wind slab exist immediately below ridge crest in alpine features. Some recent slab activity has been observed on N and E aspects.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    The April sun is powerful and leads to rapid melting on solar aspects through the day. Avoid exposure to these slopes when the snow is wet or moist, and be aware of overhead slopes and cornices.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–5
    The basal weak layers have been dormant for some time, but with the snowpack warming up each day thin snowpack areas in steep terrain are still a concern for triggering.

Confidence

Good - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

A good freeze is expected tonight with Thursday bringing sunny skies and mild temperatures. Winds will remain light out of the west and freezing levels are expected to reach 2200m. Friday should be much the same, but the winds will pick up considerably. Saturday may see some light precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

A few solar triggered sluffs occurred this afternoon up to size 1.5. A few slab avalanches have occurred on steep alpine features on N and E aspects in the past 24 to 36hrs. These generally occurred immediately below cliff bands and ranged between 25 and 50cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

Polar aspects continue to hold up to 30cm of low density snow. Isolated wind effect and small pockets of wind slab are found in alpine areas immediately below ridgecrest. Moist snow on solar aspects up to mountaintop and on all aspects below 2100m by midday.

Regions covered