Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 12th, 2014 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Temps are supposed to cool overnight so we expect the snowpack to tighten up.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Temps and the freezing levels are forecast to drop tomorrow but unfortunately, there is noooooooo snow in the forecast. Skiing, well.... ugh... I wouldnt use my skis!

Avalanche Summary

Limited observations today, but loose wet avalanches are expected to have been ongoing in very steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Tiny bits of snow fell over the past 24hrs but generally nothing is changing. Warm temps are continuing to settle out the snowpack and the winds from last week defiantly have made a mark on the region. There has been no freeze below 2000m for some time now and as a result the snow pack is sufferring. Above this elevation, persistent slabs overlying the Nov 6th crust and the Nov24th crust are being observed. There are failing in the moderate range and are most susceptible to triggerring from a thin snow pack area.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

A layer of facets over this weakness will be most easily triggerred from a thinner snowpack area.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Wet

We expect problems associated with loose wet avalanche to diminish over the weekend as conditions cool.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 13th, 2014 2:00PM