Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 1 – 3, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Warm temps are keeping the snowpack wet and isothermal. No re-freeze on the Spray lakes road for the past 3 days. There is a storm forecast to move into the region on Saturday afternoon that may give us up to 25cm of snow by Monday am.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Persistent and wet slabs have been seen to be failing on the arctic facets down 30-50cm

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Watch for loose wet avalanche in lower elevations. Some areas (HWY 40) are down to bare grass around the Mt Kidd area.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Recent evidence exists of avalanche failing in the basal facets and depth hoar close to ground.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche were observed,

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps are making the snowpack isothermal in lower elevation areas and making the top 10-30cm moist at treeline and above. Light overnight freezes are helping, but they just can't compete with the daytime highs. Every day the snowpack is becoming weaker and weaker. This warmth induced rapid settlement is overloading the weak basal facets, and in some areas triggering full depth avalanches. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at this time.

Weather Summary

Another warm day on Friday although there will be some slight cooling and maybe even go below zero for the first time in a long time! As we transition into Saturday the temperatures will begin to get a bit more seasonal, and the weather pattern will change to out of the NE and over the weekend, there may be up to 25cm of snow falling with light to moderate northerly winds.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.

Regions covered