Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Jan 13 – 14, 2015Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Seek sheltered areas at treeline and below for the best turns.  PW

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Windslabs are variable distributed, but found mainly in the alpine, and some open areas at treeline elevations.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Windloaded areas at upper treeline and above are still of concern.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    We still have many areas with a shallow snowpack.  Use caution while travelling through these areas and avoid if possible.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are on the rise, but should remain below freezing in the alpine.  It will be mainly cloudy, but when the sun comes out if will have an adverse effect on snow stability, especially on steeper angled aspects facing the sun directly. Keep an eye out for sluffing of snow off of radiation sponges such as cliff faces and rocks due to the sun's warming, which will often create point release avalanches.  Ridgetop winds will be in the 35km/hr range from the west.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar growth occurred last night up to 8mm in size.  With some clear relatively calm nights ahead will see this growth continue, although this won't be a concern until it is buried.  In the alpine and open areas at treeline there are variably distributed windslabs making for tricky skiing.  A sun crust formed on solar aspects from last Wednesday's intense sunny period.  Sheltered areas are the key to good turns at the moment.  Forecasters were in the Hero's Knob area where the Dec. 13th layer was prevalent at treeline and in the sub-alpine elevations.  Weak facetted snow crystals were found both above and below this layer giving forecasters concern for human triggering.  The basal weak layers are still a concern so much so that it turned forecasters around today. 

Regions covered