Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2013 3:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

We're due for a change...hopefully this is it. Snow is in the extended forecast, but until it arrives we're stuck with the the ongoing theme of a weak, shallow snowpack. The incoming snow amounts may vary. Keep an eye out for changing conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Good - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

The winds are here to stay for the next few days. For our entire forecast period, the ridge top winds are expected to be in the strong to extreme range. Gusts to 105 km/h are expected tomorrow at 3000m. Hold on tight if you're going up high! There is some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of snow. Not much for tomorrow, but by tues evening we may have as much as 14cm. Temps will stay relatively warm as well.

Avalanche Summary

No natural avalanches were noted today.

Snowpack Summary

In most areas the new snow from yesterday has been stripped by the wind. There are sheltered pockets that still have some new snow, but for the most part we're back to the old surface snow. Travel is still punchy with brief moments of supportive trailbreaking quickly followed by more tedious, deep trailbreaking. Our faceted snow pack is holding steady (so to speak).

Problems

Persistent Slabs

This layer is covered by the old slab that survived the cold snap and potentially small, isolated slabs from the recent winds. The predicted trouble spots are thin, steep, leeward slopes at TL and ALP.

Avoid cross loaded slopes at or above treeline.>Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2013 2:00PM