Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

May 7 – 12, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

We are entering a massive warm up. Danger ratings indicate the highest avalanche danger for the day.

Time to avoid all avalanche terrain and any exposure to avalanche run outs.

Scramblers be aware of what's overhead and stay out of gully's.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    If there were ever a time to avoid cornices, this would be it! With the drastic change in temperatures, Cornices will destabilize.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2.5–3.5

    As the heat comes through the region, overnight freezes will be minimal to non-existent. The snowpack will be in a full time state of melt and weakening

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Concern remains for basal instabilities on high north areas. Be cautious in thin areas. This is low probability high consequence.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches up to size 2.0 have been observed in the last 24hrs. More significant avalanche activity is expected over the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

With above freezing temperatures and high freezing levels the next few days, finding any quality skiing will be difficult. Overnight freezes will be minimal and even northerly slopes will not maintain much, if any, dry snow. This would be a great time to avoid any exposure to avalanche terrain as this hot weather passes through.

Weather Summary

We are entering the big warm up of the spring. Freezing levels are going to rapidly rise to 3900m by Friday, and stay there through the weekend. This is the warm up we have been waiting for. Valley temperatures are forecasted to be in the +20 range.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Be aware that wet activity at low elevations is a classic situation for step-down failures in deeply buried persistent weak layers.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating.

Regions covered