Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Nov 15th, 2015–Nov 16th, 2015

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kananaskis.

The winds today were a big issue and have built some touchy windslabs at ridgetop. Any windloaded terrain feature should be treated with great suspicion. We now likely have hard slabs sitting on top of a structurally weak base layer. (PJ)

Confidence

Fair - Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

The forecast indicates falling freezing levels to valley bottom for Monday. Winds will diminish to the light/moderate range from the NW and with some possible light flurries.

Avalanche Summary

A medium sized avalanche cycle was observed today in the Kananaskis and Highwood areas today. Strong to extreme winds were seen moving the recent storm snow stripped off of windward south and west facing slopes onto north and east aspects as windslabs. These slabs are overloading the unconsolidated lower pack including facets from November 5th. In one case today, an avalanche up to size 2.5 failed on these facets on the ground and ran full path to the creek

Snowpack Summary

High freezing levels (2300 meters) and warm temperatures are promoting very rapid settlement of the new storm snow into a more cohesive slab at all elevations and aspects The winds were the main culprit today with serious redistribution of the new snow into windslabs on lee features. We found evidence of buried windslabs in exposed features at treeline and the lower structure of the snowpack was typically soft, weak and facetted.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 4

Storm Slabs

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.>Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3