Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

May 3 – 6, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

A clearing trend and high freezing levels are forecast for Saturday and we expect the natural avalanche cycle to continue with a poor freeze overnight. By Sunday the snowpack, we expect natural avalanche activity to begin to taper.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Recent snow is settling into a reactive wet storm slab in all open areas.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet slides may trigger the deeper weak layers so use caution and be mindful to avoid overhead terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    As conditions warm up over the next few days, watch for the deeper persistent layers to start to wake up with the new load. These slides will run far as wet as slides will follow terrain.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet slabs and loose wet avalanches up to sz 2.5 on all aspects. Two recent skier accidental avalanches also occurred on north aspects at 2400m failing within the recent storm snow down 75-100cm in wind affected areas.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60cm of recent storm snow has settled fast with the warmer temperatures and is quickly settling into a reactive storm and or wet slab. This snow is overlying a variety of surfaces from crusts on solar aspects to dry snow on steep northern polar aspects. When the sun comes out, we are expecting a natural avalanche cycle to occur. Wet slabs and numerous loose wet avalanches were observed on Friday.

Weather Summary

The storm is finally ending and we are looking to return to back to spring, hopefully for the last time! A mix of sun and cloud are forecast for Saturday with freezing levels around 2600m. Winds will be light out of the SW.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

Regions covered