Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Feb 21 – 22, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

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

Recent avalanche activity has us doubting the snowpack in large terrain. Ski quality is good in sheltered areas at the moment.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs exist on all aspects but tend to be thicker on easterly aspects. These may be up to 50cm thick in heavily loaded areas.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    This hard slab is spotty in nature. Expect to see it start near treeline and carry on higher. If it does react, it will likely propagate for a long ways.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Past avalanches have stepped down to this layer. Thin areas and transitional terrain remain a concern.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Convective flurries will bring us a few cm's tomorrow. Amounts are expected to be around 5cm, but this could vary locally. The alpine high will be -12. Light winds are expected from the north.

Avalanche Summary

A sz1.5 was noted below steep cliffs in the alpine. It only involved the storm snow.

Snowpack Summary

At Burstall Pass the recent snow has settled to 20cm with total depths approaching 2m. In places this new snow is a very soft slab that has been reactive in the past 24 hours. Beneath the new snow, the mid pack is well settled and gets progressively harder as you move down in the snowpack. The deeper layers are a mix of weak facets and depth hoar. There were repeatable failures(CTH22, SC) in the facet layer, down 50-70cm. This failure was difficult to initiate, however we expect this layer is weaker and easier to trigger in thin areas.

Regions covered