Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Continued strong West winds are likely to keep wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline reactive. Sheltered tree's may still have soft unaffected snow.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few size 1.5 wind slabs out of immediate lee features observed on a flight through the spray valley yesterday. None of these windslabs appeared to stepdown to weaker layers. Otherwise no new or reported slides.
Snowpack Summary
Treeline and alpine windslabs continue to be the main avalanche concern in terms of "triggerability". They are improving with the the relatively warm temperatures, but still expect to find reactive pockets in steep and/or convex terrain. In terms of consequence, the dreaded Nov 5 facets still have a firm grip on the low probability/high consequence title. Some of our neighbours to the west have seen failures on this layer, which suggest loading is a critical factor in when this layer will fail.
Weather Summary
Tonight may bring up to 5cm of much needed snow. The winds continue to wreak havoc. 50-60 km winds out of the west persist for the coming days. A mix of sun and cloud and day time highs of -10 throughout the day.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Open slopes at treeline and alpine areas look plump and ready for a trigger. Low angle terrain is still key.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
Thin areas are where this layer will be easiest to trigger. Be thinking about wide propagations as the snowpack above is more cohesive than before.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3