Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kananaskis.
Temperatures jumped to -5 today on the Spray Road. Unlike people, it takes the snowpack a day or so get used to the change and sort itself out. In the early stages of the warm spell approach big terrain with caution, especially if it hasn't avalanched lately.
Confidence
No Rating -
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will continue to rise, with a daytime high of -5 tomorrow. No snow. 40km/hr winds valley bottom with alpine winds around 60km/hr. The wind direction will be SW.
Avalanche Summary
One sz 2.5 was seen in the Ranger Creek drainage. The exact age is unknown, but it appeared fresh.
Snowpack Summary
The winds picked up last night and immediately built new windslabs in the alpine & treeline areas. All eastern aspects have soft slabs that feel hollow. No whumphing or cracking was observed, but we limited our exposure to the higher and windier areas today. A profile at treeline had a snow depth of about 2m with the Dec 31 layer down about 40cm. The deep persistent layer was about 20cm thick and made up of depth hoar and facets.
Terrain and Travel
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain as temperatures increase.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
There are new slabs being formed as you read this. Keep in mind there are also buried windslabs that might be lingering below the new slabs. This interface could be problematic given it formed when the snow was cold.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
The warming trend and localized loading will make this layer easier to trigger. Minimize exposure to large terrain that hasn't previously slid.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Cornices
With rising temps, cornices may weaken and potentially trigger the deeper layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5