Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Dec 24 – 25, 2013Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

On Christmas Day strong winds and light snowfall will lead to further wind slab development. The October layer remains a major concern in the snowpack and requires cautious route selection. Next bulletin update will be on the afternoon of Boxing Day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Wind slabs are found in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline on lee and cross-loaded features. With the incoming precipitation and strong winds, further slab development will occur.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Avalanches could step down to the basal October crust (or the ground) and involve the entire winters snowpack, especially in shallow snowpack areas. Some whumpfing has been experienced in recent days.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Up to 5cm of snow possible on Christmas Day and 7 to 10cm on Boxing Day. Temperatures will be relatively mild and winds will remain strong from the West or North-West.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

1cm of new snow in the past 24hrs. Strong winds continue to move some snow around at higher elevations leading to continued wind slab development on North and East aspects. The October layer of facets/depth hoar/crust remains a serious concern at the base of the snowpack, and this problem is unlikely to go away anytime soon.

Regions covered