Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Apr 27 – 28, 2014Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Still some good skiing found on sheltered North aspects at higher elevations. However, watch for rapid rises in avalanche danger related to solar radiation and warm temperatures. Start early and finish early.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Timing is everything at this time of year. Solar radiation is intense and can lead to rapid destabilization of the snowpack. Air temperatures are also a concern as the snowpack grows isothermal at lower elevations later in the day.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3–6
    The basal facets are producing large slab avalanches that are failing on the basal facets.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Wednesday should be mostly sunny with NW winds gusting to 55 km/h. Alpine temperatures should reach -3 degrees with freezing levels near 1700m. The rest of the week will see a warming in temperatures with freezing levels near 3100m by Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed today, but a size 3.0 slab avalanche occurred on Commonwealth Ridge sometime Saturday. This was a full-depth avalanche on a SE aspect that ran full path and destroyed mature timber.

Snowpack Summary

Between 2 and 8cm of new snow overnight depending on aspect and elevation. This overlies a melt freeze crust on all aspects at all elevations except for North aspects above 2400m. Isolated thin wind slabs are found at ridge-crest in immediate lee slopes, but generally don't seem to be reactive to ski cutting. The basal facet and depth hoar remain a concern during times of intense heating and/or solar radiation. Where cornices exist they are large and sagging.

Regions covered