Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Apr 12 – 13, 2021Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Solar slopes will see a rapid rise in avalanche danger on Tuesday. Plan your route accordingly.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent strong winds are building new wind slabs in alpine and treeline terrain. Lee and cross-loaded features on all aspects are areas of concern.

  • Cornices

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

    Cornices are large and looming. Limit your exposure underneath these beasts, especially when the sun is blazing and the air temps are warm.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Intense solar radiation and high freezing levels will quickly destabilize the snow on solar aspects on Tuesday.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be mainly sunny with light easterly winds. Temperatures will be near -1 with freezing levels climbing to 2200m. The mid-April sun will pack a punch!

Avalanche Summary

Visibility was limited today, but several small loose dry avalanches were observed. A size 2 skier-triggered slab occurred in the Hero's Knob area on Saturday. This slide was 100cm deep and 40m wide, and was significant near miss for the people involved.

Snowpack Summary

Another 5 to 10cm of new snow fell in the last 24 hours. This brings recent storm totals to between 50 and 60cm. This storm snow sits on a crust on solar aspects, and may have thin crusts interspersed within the storm snow. The storm snow has remained mainly low density at upper elevations, but be on the lookout for both surface and buried wind slabs formed by both the "traditional" winds (SW) and by up-slope conditions (NE). Recent snowpack tests indicate moderate shears down between 50 and 70cm, so take the time to explore the local conditions as you travel. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid steep convex slopes.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

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