Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 17th, 2018 3:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Watch for recent windslabs along ridgelines and in alpine areas.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

No new snow in the forecast for the next few days and skies are forecast to clear as a surface ridge begins to move into the region.Â Temperatures on Sunday will be more season with daytime highs around -5C and winds beginning in the day in the moderate range out of the SW then easing off by mid-day.Â Expect the mornings to be cool with the clear skies and our first surface hoar layer to begin to develop.

Avalanche Summary

A few loose dry slides were observed from steeper alpine areas. Also, pockets of winslabs up to sz 1.5 were observed along ridgelines and in bowls that had katabatic downflow wind affect from last Friday nights cool temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

No new snow has fallen in the past 24hrs and the previous storm snow (up to 30cm) is beginning to settle. In Alpine areas, windslabs up to 15cm thick were being observed iin areas where wind affected. Winds didnt seem to punish the snowpack as much as usual and a few loose dry slides were also observed. There are two crusts in the snowpack to be aware and curious about. The Oct 26th crust 20-40cm off the ground and the Nov 4th crust 40-50cm off the ground. These crusts are being found on all aspects but limitied field observations so far this season has us still figuring out the elevation that it extends up to.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The recent snow is putting a bit of weight/stress on the crust. Given what we saw last week, this may take some time to sort itself out. Asses the crust and the bond with upper layers thoroughly before trusting a slope.

Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

Fresh snow and wind have created windslabs. Expect them near ridge lines and in open bowls where katabatic winds were dominant over the past 24hrs.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Nov 18th, 2018 2:00PM