Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Apr 27 – 28, 2017Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Recent snow over this past week should keep avalanche conditions in the forefront of your mind.  Good skiing can be found on north aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Cornices are collapsing with the warmer temperatures triggering slabs on underlying slopes.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    As the snowpack warms we become increasingly susceptible to loose wet avalanches. Steep terrain and gullies should be treated with caution if the snow is moist or wet.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–4
    In general the bottom layers are still weak and suspect. Especially in the alpine and/or polar aspects. Large triggers such as a big influx of heat or a cornice collapse can wake up these basal layers.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

Overnight on thursday we may see up to an additional 15cm of snow and another 5-10cm on Friday.  Winds are forecast to be light with freezing levels are 2000m.    Start early while there is still a good freeze and be home early. 

Avalanche Summary

A few recent sz 3 avalanches have been observed failing to ground initiating in Alpine terrain on N through E aspects. Cornices are large, and are the suspected trigger in these avalanches. There has also been loose wet at lower elevaitons, and loose dry in Alpine terrain from steep unskiable features.

Snowpack Summary

20-30cm of snow has fallen over the past few days (23-27th of April) with warm temperatures and generally light winds. This new snow is settling rapidly at lower elevations and more slowly in alpine areas. Expect to encounter a series of melt freeze crusts on solar aspects up the 3100m and dry powder snow in alpine terrain on northern aspects. At 2200m and below, expect to encounter widespread surface crusts that will be supportive in the morning and less so in the afternoon.  On solar aspects, watch for the new snow forming thin slabs or loose dry slides on the underlying crusts that react quickly to a skiers weight.

Regions covered