Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Dec 3 – 4, 2013Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

With only 15cm of new snow at treeline through the recent "storm", there has been very little improvement in the ski quality. Any avalanche triggered will likely involve the entire season's snowpack, so choose lines conservatively.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Reverse wind-loading has formed thin wind slabs on W through SE aspects. In some cases these slabs sit on layers of sun crust or surface hoar. The likelihood of triggering is highly variable, so use caution when choosing terrain features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Avalanches initiated in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to the basal October crust and involve the entire winters snowpack.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

It appears that we are entering a cold and dry period. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with temperatures near - 21 and NE winds in the light to moderate range. No precipitation is expected for at least a week.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of new snow at Treeline and only 1cm new at valley bottom. Snowpack facetting with cold temperatures. Reverse wind-loading evident and suspect thin wind slab formation on W through SE aspects.

Regions covered