Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 23 – 24, 2020Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A bit of new snow is on the way. Watch for fresh wind slabs at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Watch for new wind slabs with the incoming precipitation and moderate SW winds.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    The basal weaknesses still linger. While difficult to trigger, any resulting avalanche will be large.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

There is some disagreement between weather forecasts. Most weather products agree that Sunday will be mostly cloudy with moderate SW winds. However, snowfall amounts are uncertain with everywhere between 3 and 12cm expected. Temperatures should reach 05 in the Alpine on Sunday. Monday also looks cloudy with light flurries.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today, but observations were limited in poor visibility.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amounts of new snow overnight, but there was moderate snowfall occurring midday in Saturday. Accumulations could reach 5cm by this evening. Alpine areas exhibit widespread wind slabs on all aspects, whereas at Treeline these slabs are restricted to typical lee and cross-loaded features. Sun crust on solar aspects.

Terrain and Travel

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

Regions covered