Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Dec 16 – 17, 2018Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human triggering is likely. This is not the time to be stepping out into big terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Wind slabs are in the human-triggerable range with failures down 30 to 50cm.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    There are a number of weak facet layers lurking deep in the snowpack. Be sure to dig and assess before jumping into ski terrain. Even pieces of small terrain could kick out a decent size avalanche.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Monday will bring trace amounts of snowfall with continued strong to extreme westerly winds. Alpine temperatures should reach a high of -6.  Tuesday will stay windy and there is some potential for 10 to 15cm by end of day Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed in Treeline and Alpine terrain over the last 48 hours. Natural avalanche activity is tapering off, but human triggering is still prime.

Snowpack Summary

Another 2cm of fresh snow overnight brings the recent storm snow up to 40cm at Treeline. Widespread wind slabs have developed and we have seen lots of cracking, reports of whumpfing, and skier controlled avalanches on the Dec 10th surface hoar and facet interface down 40-50cm. Recent natural avalanche have stepped down to the Oct crust with fracture depths over 1m.

Regions covered