Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 16 – 17, 2017Alberta Parks
View on map
Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

The snowpack will tighten up and improve as the cold returns. The warmth has penetrated deep into the snowpack at treeline and below. Remember that it may take some time for the cold to sink into the snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    The alpine has only been lightly effected by the warm weather. Surface layers have bonded and "healed". The deeper layers were insulated from the warmth and remain the same as they were before. Inspect this interface for signs of weakness.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Many avalanches have stepped to this layer. As the surface layers bond, this layer will require larger triggers to initiate. Thin areas and transitional terrain remain a concern.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

A cooling trend will start tonight. Expected afternoon highs will be around -9 in the alpine. The winds will also drop and settle to 30-40km/hr from the west. No snow is expected for the next few days.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new was noted today, however the light was poor.

Snowpack Summary

The warm weather has had a significant impact on the snowpack. Long term this will help, but for the time being the snowpack quality is marginal. Below treeline almost the entire snowpack is moist snow. The basal layers are still the dry facets that we've seen all year. Near treeline the snow has settled into a moist, dense layer that sits on the weak Feb 18th facets or hardslab from past wind events. Some whumphing and cracking was noted today, but the wet slab had more of a collapsing feel to it. The warm air hasn't reached the upper elevations yet. In upper treeline areas and alpine areas the surface snow has remained cool. Some wind transport was noted today, but not enough to create wind slabs.

Regions covered