Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 4th, 2013 7:23AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Very cold temperatures and no new snow will lead to a slow improvement in the Danger Ratings. Unfortunately ski quality is not likely to improve for some time.

Summary

Confidence

Good - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

Mostly sunny on Thursday with temperatures topping out near -21. Winds will be light to moderate from the north. No new snow is expected over the next several days.

Avalanche Summary

Very isolated sluffing in steep rocky terrain up to size 1.0.

Snowpack Summary

Surface faceting continues and limited surface hoar growth in isolated areas. Snowpack continues to weaken.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Avalanches initiated in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to the basal October crust and involve the entire winters snowpack.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

Reverse wind-loading has formed thin wind slabs on W through SE aspects. In some cases these slabs sit on layers of sun crust or surface hoar. The likelihood of triggering is highly variable, so use caution when choosing terrain features.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 5th, 2013 2:00PM