It is avalanche season in Kananaskis! It is still very early in the season and the snowpack is shallow, so watch for numerous buried hazards. Bulletins will be updated as conditions warrant, and we will begin daily bulletins later in November.
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud on Tuesday with a chance of light flurries in the evening. Alpine temperatures should reach -11 Celsius. Winds will be from the SW in the light to moderate range. Wednesday and Thursday will be a bit warmer with occasional light flurries.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches today, but observations were very limited.
Snowpack Summary
The early season snowpack is still very shallow with lots of buried hazards. Cold temperatures are leading to facetting of the snowpack. Snow depths at 2200m range from 30 to 60cm deep. 10 to 15cm of low density (or in some cases wind affected snow) overlies a crust formed in late October. This crust sits about 25cm above the ground and is supportive to skier traffic in some areas. At higher elevations wind slabs are present and may be sensitive to human triggering in steeper terrain. Watch for these slabs just below ridge crests and in gully features. Ice climbers should be aware that sluffing of loose unconsolidated surface snow is possible in steep terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.