Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 13 – 14, 2017Alberta Parks
View on map
Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map

Highlights

Hazard may increase to HIGH with daytime heating and solar radiation. Conservative route selection and staying away from overhead exposure is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Wind slabs are everywhere, but the most recent loading is onto typical lee and cross-loaded features. The slabs are 50-60cm thick and are sitting on a variety of surfaces. These slabs are very sensitive to human-triggering.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Cornices are large and relatively new to the scene. Expect them to fail easily, especially as it warms up.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Many avalanches have stepped to this layer. Very large avalanches can be expected if this layer is involved. Large triggers(cornices) may wake this layer up.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will bring warmer temps and higher freezing levels for next few days. For Tuesday, forecast shows a high of 0 deg in the Alpine with freezing level at 2100m and winds SW at 25km/hr. Even warmer temperatures are forecast for Wednesday. Stay tuned.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity was observed today but all the slopes in the back country do look primed for avalanching.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs dominate the Alpine and Treeline elevation bands. These slabs are found on all aspects, but the most recent loading pattern is from the SW loading up traditional lee and cross-loaded terrain and starting to strip windward slopes in the Alpine. Cornices have grown to a significant size and can be triggered by the forecast warmer temperatures, Below Treeline , rapid settlement of the snowpack was observed with the warmer temperatures. Whumphing is widespread and can propagate a long ways through the weaker layers. Think of this as you approach overhead terrain. Moist snow can be expected at lower elevations and on steep solar aspects.

Regions covered