Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 19 – 20, 2018Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Widespread wind slabs in the alpine and isolated wind slabs at tree line  are still a concern for triggering avalanches.  The deeper weak layers are also a concern for the mere fact that they would produce big avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Widepsread windslabs in Alpine terrain and more variable at treeline locations. Some areas there has been winds well down into the timber and others not so much.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–3
    Hard and sudden planar results are being observed on this layer down in general 120cm. Its getting harder to trigger but will result in large avalanches.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3.5
    Recent avalanche activity has shown the potential for avalanches to step down to this layer.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

The weatherman says that Tuesday will be a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. I think that covers all the bases. Winds should be light with an alpine temperature of -19c.The rest of the week is looking like a mix of sun and cloud with cold alpine temperatures(-20c). Might be a good idea to choose trips which stay in the sun.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

The wind slabs from last week's wind event are under the recent 5-10cm of snow. They are extensive in the alpine and variable at tree line depending upon the drainage. Forecasters are still concerned for triggering these wind slabs 20-40cm down. Secondly, large natural avalanches were still occurring on Feb 16 failing on the deeper persistent layers 100-150cm down(Dec 15 facets and Jan 6 surface hoar). We are still apprehensive to venture out into bigger terrain or travel under large avalanche slopes.

Regions covered