Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 17 – 18, 2018Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

A few large avalanches in the past 48hrs.  Limit your exposure in terrain that has not yet avalanched.  Cold temps moving in!!!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Widepsread windslabs in Alpine terrain and in more specific areas such as gullies and ridgelines at treeline. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    The surface hoar is still intact in many treeline areas. It's depth varies, but a meter down is a good generalization. We are still treating this layer with caution and respect. Surface hoar is known for unexpected surprises.

  • 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. 

Snowpack Summary

10-13cm of recent snow at treeline and above has helped to freshen up the skiing.  Windlslabs are being found on all aspects in the alpine due to westerly and now northerly flow.  These slabs had a drummy cakey feel that had us give them a wide berth.  Despite the strong winds, these slabs do not appear to extend far downslope but the forecasting team was only in a treeline feature on Saturday.  We expect them to be more widespread in the alpine.  Deeper in the snowpack the Jan 6th Sh layer was found at 2400m down 120cm.  Tests are producing hard sudden planar results on this interface indicating that if you do cause a failure in the wrong spot, expect a large desctructive avalanche. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

A few more cm of snow overnight and then the deep freeze arrives...  Winds will be out of the north and thankfully light!  Temps on Sunday are in the -25s area... 

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity was obscured but observatons were limited due to poor visibility.

Regions covered