Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 24th, 2012 8:15AM

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

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

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Kananaskis.

A surprising lack of winds throughout most of the forecast area on Saturday.  Pockets of windslabs can be found along ridge-crests and in cross-loaded feature so be cautious.  There is LOTS of early seasons hazards out there showing right now...

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will remain cool on Sunday and thankfully the winds will remain generally light.  We may see a few cm of new snow fall throughout the day but little accumulation is expected over the next 24hrs.

Avalanche Summary

A few new small loose dry avalanches on N aspects.  2 size 2.5 slab avalanches on Mt Murray initiating in steep N and NE alpine terrain running to the middle of their normal run-out's.

Snowpack Summary

Little change.  Upper snowpack continues to settle under influence of mild temperatures.  Sheers within the upper snow pack are beginning to settle and strengthen.  November Rain crust down 30-70cm depending on area (see Tent Ridge profile).  Lots of variability in snowpack depths throughout the region at this time.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Lee and crossloaded features are places where one can expect to encounter pockets of windslabs that may be triggerable by light loads such as a skier.  Cornice collapses have been releasing slabs up to sz 2.5 on underlying slopes over the past 48hrs.
Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid unsupported slopes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
The november rain crust persists about 15cm off the ground throughout the forecast area.  Avalanches in the upper snowpack may step down to this weakness causing a large avalanche.
Be aware of thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilites.>Early season hazards such as rocks, trees and stumps are still visible.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Nov 25th, 2012 2:00PM

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