Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 15th, 2013 3:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Wind Slabs.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Stay tuned for the daily bulletins. Light amounts of snow this week-end will only help the conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Light snow is forecasted to come over the week-end. Up to 7cm in the next 24hrs and another 11cm over Sunday. Winds will initially be variable in direction, but as usual the ridgetop wind speeds will be high to extreme. Winds at 1500m will be in the light/moderate range. To top it off, the temps are going to fall overnight Friday.

Avalanche Summary

A few near missed over the past week up to sz 2.Â Poor visibility today prevented any current observations.

Snowpack Summary

Little change over the past few days.Â Widespread hard slabs in alpine terrain as a result of the strong winds.Â The Oct 27th crust is 20cm or so off the ground and has been the culprit in a few skier triggered and natural avalanches over the past week.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Touchy storm slabs continue in the Alpine terrain with recent snow and winds. How these slabs bond to each other is the question now. The NW flow may reverse load some areas.

Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Wind Slabs

The spotty windslabs that have been a problem in the last while will now be buried below the incoming snow.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Nov 16th, 2013 2:00PM